India signs pacts with six countries to boost air connectivity
India has signed agreements with six countries in order to enhance international air connectivity and improve services for passenger travelling through Gulf and African countries. The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at the International Civil Aviation Negotiations held in Antalya, Turkey during October19-23. The agreements were signed with Scandinavian countries—Finland Sweden, Norway & Denmark – as well as Kazakhstan, Kenya, Oman and Ethiopia. During the conference, the Indian delegation representing the Ministry of Civil Aviation negotiated with the delegations from 11 countries. The Indian delegation also “agreed minutes” with Serbia, Greece, European Commission and “record of discussions” with Brunei Darussalam and Qatar, a Finance Ministry statement said on Thursday. The MoUs would enhance the international air connectivity besides offering passengers a wider choice and seamless connectivity, the statement said. According to the deal with Kazaksthan, India agreed to review the already-initiated Air Services Agreement (ASA), and both the parties also agreed for “third country airlines code share and domestic code share operations to four points”. Hyderabad was allowed as an additional point of call for the designated carriers of Kenya and “domestic code share” was also agreed to from any 4 points by both sides. Besides, Kenya agreed to grant one additional point, intermediate and beyond point with full 5th freedom rights in Africa to India. Ethiopia was allowed to exchange Bangalore in place of Kolkata as a “point of call” and three additional domestic code share points - Jaipur, Kolkata and Pune were granted under code share arrangements with Air India. Provisions under the MoU with Finland include code share, intermodal services, routing flexibility and open sky on cargo. For designated airline of Finland, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata were agreed as “domestic code share points”, and for designated airlines of India, these additional points are yet to be specified by Indian side. India also accepted Norway’s request to bring Norway-India bilateral in line with horizontal agreement on receiving a letter to this effect from European Council. In return, Sweden allowed India new code share point namely Gothenburg for code share operations.
November 13, 2015 | 4:24pm IST
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