India amends air services agreement with Saudi Arabia

18 Sep 2009

1

The Central government yesterday approved the amendments to the air services agreement (ASA) between India and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement, last signed in 1973 between the two countries was reviewed from time to time on air service matters, and the last round of such bilateral talks was held in January, 2008 in Jeddah.

''With a view to have detailed discussions in matters relating to the air services between India and Saudi Arabia and to widen the field of aviation, bilateral air services consultations between the two countries were held on 23rd January, 2008 and both the sides agreed to modernise the existing ASA signed on 26th April, 1973,'' a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Under the amended ASA, both the countries can designate one or more of their carriers to operate agreed services. The agreed capacity is 75 services per week with a maximum capacity of 20,000 seats in each direction.

The points of call in Saudi Arabia for Indian carriers are Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Medinah, whereas the Indian points for Saudi carriers are Mumabi, Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kozhikode and Lucknow.

Currently, as per the summer schedule of 2009, Saudia operates 39 services per week to Indian destinations, while Air India flies 46 services to Saudi Arabia.

The main points covered in the MoU signed last year in Jeddah are:

  • Incorporation of ''multiple designation clause'' allowing each side to designate any number of airlines to operate
  • Increase in capacity entitlement from 8,500 seats per week to 20,000 seats per week, with maximum frequencies raised from 31 per week to 75 per week.
  • Three additional call points for Saudi Arabian airlines: Bangalore, Calicut and Lucknow and one additional call point for Indian carriers: Medinah.
  • Saudi Arabia's open sky policy on the capacity to be operated by Indian carriers to/from Dammam, which shall not be counted to the agreed capacity entitlements
  • Open sky policy by both the sides with regard to all cargo services

The statement further said that articles on co-operative marketing arrangements and aviation safety have been introduced in the amended ASA, which has the potential to spur greater trade investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries besides bringing it in tune with the developments in the international civil scenario.

Business History Videos

History of hovercraft Part 3...

Today I shall talk a bit more about the military plans for ...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of hovercraft Part 2...

In this episode of our history of hovercraft, we shall exam...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Hovercraft Part 1...

If you’ve been a James Bond movie fan, you may recall seein...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Trams in India | ...

The video I am presenting to you is based on a script writt...

By Aniket Gupta | Presenter: Sheetal Gaikwad

view more