MALAYSIA and Singapore have reached a truce in their airspace dispute, said the countries’ transport ministers.

In a joint statement, Anthony Loke and his Singaporean counterpart, Khaw Boon Wan, said the republic will withdraw instrument landing system (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport, while Malaysia will indefinitely suspend the permanent restricted area status in the skies over Pasir Gudang.

The agreement was implemented by the countries’ civil aviation authorities at 11.59pm yesterday, said the statement, adding that the decision was made in the spirit of bilateral cooperation.

“Both transport ministers noted that a high-level committee has been set up to review the Operational Letter of Agreement Between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Area Control Centres Concerning Singapore Arrivals, Departures and Overflights 1974.”

With the agreement, Malaysian airline Firefly can start operating at Seletar Airport starting this month.

This confirms The Malaysian Insight’s report on March 23, that Firefly is on the verge of restarting its Singapore route, which will entail landing at Seletar Airport.

Malaysia and Singapore had been locked in the airspace dispute since late last year.

On December 12, Loke said aircraft approaching to land at Seletar Airport would force a limit on the height of buildings and structures in Pasir Gudang, hurting development in the area. – April 6, 2019.