Malaysia is studying the possibility of opening the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore air route to the budget airlines of the two countries, a senior official said Saturday.

The Transport Ministry has set up a committee to study the issue, which is expected to come up with recommendations in the coming few weeks, Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy said.

Malaysia's AirAsia and Singapore's Tiger Airways have expressed interest in flying the route, which is one of Asia's most lucrative and busiest routes.

Currently, there more than 200 flights per week on the route operated by Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the national flag carrier, and Singapore Airlines (SIA).

MAS and SIA, both premium airlines, operate in a virtual monopoly under a 34-year-old bilateral air services agreement between the two countries, according to the local media reports.

Source: Xinhua