Flag carrier proposes review of all air agreements with neighbouring nations with view to liberalisation by 2007
Middle East carrier Royal Jordanian Airlines has presented a two-phase liberalisation proposal to the Jordanian government under which the country would forge strong ties with Arab states ahead of developing an open skies policy by 2007.
In the proposal, which was submitted after an official visit by Jordanian head of state King Abdullah II, the flag carrier recommends that the government initially review all air agreements between Jordan and Arab countries in order to reinforce links with the Arab world.
This review would aim to ensure at least one daily flight between Jordanian capital Amman and each of the other Arab capital cities, as well as daily services from Amman to major Middle East destinations, such as Jeddah, Dhahran, Benghazi and Alexandria.
Tighter ties with the Arab nations would then lead to an effort - undertaken in collaboration with the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) - to develop a unified Arab policy on which to base third-party air services agreements, particularly with the European Union.
"If ratified, Royal Jordanian will recommend that the Jordanian civil aviation authority reconsiders air agreements between Jordan and EU countries to provide daily flights between Amman and each member state," says the carrier. Royal Jordanian president and chief executive Samer Majali says this phase might also result in air agreements allowing frequent services to Asia-Pacific nations such as Japan, South Korea and Australia.
The proposal would also amend civil aviation authority regulations to give airlines in Jordan greater freedom to set fares and pricing structures, basing them on competitive principles.
Jordan already has an open skies area located at the special economic zone in Aqaba. But under the second phase of the proposal, Jordan would extend this liberalisation policy to become a full open skies state by 2007.
"We strongly recommend and deem it necessary to establish a regional entity to make sure competition rules are followed and to ensure fair and equal opportunities for all competing airlines," adds the airline.
Royal Jordanian says the two-phase liberalisation proposal is "in line" with the king's aim of removing hurdles that restrict Arab and other foreign investment in Jordan.
DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW / LONDON
Source: Flight International
