Guidelines on class of air travel for senior leaders while on official duty

Parliament Sitting: 5 August 2026

Mr Fadli Fawzi: To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what are the rules governing the use of premium cabin flights for political office holders and Permanent Secretaries while on official duty; (b) when were these rules last reviewed; (c) how do these rules compare with those for senior private sector leaders; (d) whether there is a need to review these rules; and (e) if not, why not.

Written Reply by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

Singapore relies primarily on commercial flights, rather than dedicated government aircraft, for official overseas travel. The guidelines governing the class of travel for Political Office Holders (POHs) and public officers are designed to ensure that travel arrangements are appropriate, while making responsible use of public resources. They take into account several factors including the seniority of the person travelling, the duration of the flight, as well as the purpose and requirements of the trip. The objective is to ensure that officials are able to perform their duties effectively upon arrival, and represent Singapore appropriately in their official engagements.

These guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to keep pace with changes in travel practices and operating needs. They are also broadly consistent with prevailing practices for senior leaders in the private sector.

The Member also asked for statistics on class of travel for flights taken by POHs in the current term of Government under the written PQ 1680. Agencies individually manage air travel for their POHs and public officers, and we do not collect aggregate data on this. All ministries and agencies are expected to adhere to the established guidelines.