Low-cost carriers will be able to fly the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route from Feb 1, the Singapore government said in a move that marks an end to the national carriers' monopoly on the sector.

"As a start, with effect from 1 Feb 2008, low-cost carriers from Singapore and Malaysia will be able to operate a total of four daily flights on this route," a Singapore government press release said.

The sector will be fully liberalised from Dec 1 next year to allow unlimited flights, it said.

"This is a positive development in our aviation relations as low-cost carriers will operate on this sector for the first time," the statement said.

Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines have enjoyed a lucrative 35-year stranglehold on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, but the two governments recently agreed to open it up to competition.

Keen to fly route

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in October that Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia will be allowed to operate two Kuala Lumpur-Singapore flights daily.

Singaporean budget airline Tiger Airways, which is backed by Singapore Airlines, is also keen to fly the route.

AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes has promised fares at about RM150 (US$45 US dollars) for a one-way ticket including taxes.

A return ticket between the cities on national carriers costs about US$319.

Both countries belong to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which aims to remove all restrictions on passenger flights between regional capitals by December next year.