Southeast Asian nations have firmed up agreements for a long-planned air services liberalisation programme that they expect will lead to a full open-skies regime for the region by 2015.
Transport ministers from the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group are currently meeting in Manila and have signed agreements to liberalise air services under their so-called Roadmap for Integration of the Air Travel Sector (RIATS) programme.
Under RIATS, which was adopted in principle in November 2004, a full liberalisation of air freight services within the region will take effect before the end of this year, along with a full liberalisation of third and fourth freedom rights for passenger services between capital cities.
The initiatives signed at the Manila meetings also call for member nations to allow fifth freedom, or beyond, services through capital cities by 2010. The ultimate aim is to have a full open-skies regime for the region by 2015.
Individual member nations will still need to ratify the agreements, however, meaning it may still be some time before they take full effect.
The 10 ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
