Stopover nod set to grow air links for ASEAN

Airlines under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be allowed to operate flights with stopover rights among members of the regional grouping starting next year, moving toward more seamless air travel across the region.

The move will come into effect once all ASEAN countries sign Protocol 5 on "Own Stopover Rights" between points within the territory of any other ASEAN member state, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

The signing of the protocol has been held in conjunction with the recent 30th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting and the 58th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meetings, along with dialogue partners such as China, Japan and South Korea.