SEVEN COUNTRIES PLUS EC SIGN POLICY PRINCIPLES ON AIR SERVICES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Seven countries as well as the European
Commission (EC) have signed a multilateral statement of policy principles
regarding the implementation of bilateral air service agreements.

The signatories were Chile, Malaysia, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland, the
United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the EC, said the International Air
Transport Association (IATA).

In total, these countries represent some 60 per cent of global aviation, the
association said in a statement released here Tuesday.

IATA director-general and chief executive officer Giovanni Bisignani said
the signing was "an historic achievement that will help set the foundation for a
financially sustainable global aviation industry".

"Today's signing is the begining of a process of change. Our shared task now
is to bring even more countries on board," he said.

Bisignani said the policy principles addressed the main areas such as
freedom to access capital markets, freedom to do business and freedom to price
services.

"While these policy principles are non-binding, they are an important
statement of common government intention among the most active countries driving
global aviation policy," he said.

The document noted specifically that the signatories recognised the
importance of promoting compatible regulatory approaches and reducing the
potential for conflicts, IATA said.

It added that the intention to use the policy principles to guide
implementation of existing air service agreements and approach to the
negotiation of new or amended air services agreements in the future.

-- BERNAMA