After starting negotiations in 2016, the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) have finally concluded a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) aimed at strengthening air connectivity between the 37 member states of the two blocs, said the European Commission on Friday 4 June.
“The conclusion of this first ever ‘bloc-to-bloc’ air transport agreement marks an important milestone in the EU’s external aviation policy”, said EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean.
Once agreed, the agreement will allow airlines from ASEAN and EU countries to operate an unlimited number of non-stop flights between the two regions.
In addition, they will be able to operate up to 14 weekly passenger services with a stopover to pick up passengers on the return journey, as well as an unlimited number of single stopover cargo flights.
According to Ms Vălean, the agreement therefore offers “essential guarantees of fair competition for our European airlines and industry while strengthening reciprocal prospects for trade and investment in some of the world’s most dynamic markets”.
The new agreement also provides a “solid platform” to further promote EU standards on safety, security, air traffic management, environment and social issues, said the Commissioner.
ASEAN and the EU will now submit the agreement for legal review with the intention of signing it at a later date.
Read the joint EU-ASEAN declaration: https://bit.ly/3wZazaG (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)