FIJIAN GOVERNMENT SIGNS A NEW AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH INDIA

09/03/2017

The Attorney-General and the Minister for Civil Aviation has today signed a new Air Services Agreement (“ASA”) with the Government of India. This new ASA will replace the previous ASA, which was signed between the two Governments over 40 years ago, in 1974.

Much has changed in aviation and in the world economy in the time since that original agreement was signed, and a new agreement was needed that was in line with the modern economies of the two countries and serve the vastly increased need for air transport. The new ASA has been negotiated to meet the conditions that exist now and will exist in the foreseeable future.

The new ASA will spur economic growth and create opportunities for trade, investment and tourism. Under the ASA and to ensure ease of travel between the two countries, Fiji Airways has already signed a code-share agreement with Jet Airways of India to allow seamless travel between Fiji and a number of Indian cities.

“This new agreement is good for both countries,” said the Attorney General, and we want to thank India’s Honourable Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, and the entire Indian government for their good faith, goodwill and respectful posture throughout these negotiations. Although Fiji is economically and geographically much smaller than India, we were at the table as equals.

As for the agreement itself, India is in a period of tremendous growth and technological advancement, and Fiji has positioned itself well to be the economic and technological hub of the South Pacific. And we have a first-rate national airline that is a desirable partner for code sharing and connections with other top airlines. Anything that improves trade and the exchange of people between our two countries will have benefits for us and for our neighbours in the Pacific for years to come.”

Fiji is now in the process of reviewing and updating its ASA with other countries, with the goal of increasing the scope and quality of economic activity and connectivity while at the same time protecting the Fijian aviation industry.

-ENDS-