SINGAPORE, August 8, 2008 (AFP) - Singapore has signed an agreement to liberalise air services with the Mediterranean republic of Malta, the Southeast Asian city-state's civil aviation authority said Friday.

The 'open skies' pact, signed last month, will allow Singapore and Maltese carriers to operate as many flights as desired between the nations and beyond, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement.

The accord will become fully effective on December 1, 2010, CAAS said.

'This agreement is a reflection of Singapore and Malta's warm bilateral ties and the commitment of both sides in establishing a fully liberal air services framework,' said CAAS director-general and chief executive Lim Kim Choon.

Singapore has signed open skies agreements with 30 countries, including 15 in the European Union.