Asean member states to fully liberalise skies; agreement to be signed in Apr-2010

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states have agreed in principle to fully liberalise air passenger services covering all airports in the ten countries. Under the agreement, to be signed in Apr-2010, restrictions on frequency, capacity and destinations would be removed, although a date for the introduction of the framework was not disclosed. Asean is also discussing an open skies agreement with China.

Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board: "We finalised a draft of the agreement at our working group meeting in Hanoi this month…and this was accepted by all countries in the Asean. It was agreed that the final version of the agreement will be signed at the next Asean transport ministers meeting, most likely in April 2010. [The agreement] would help narrow the development gap in the region…The final goal is to create a single aviation market similar to Europe", Porvenir Porciuncula, Deputy Executive Director. Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, 29-Dec-2009