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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
25 July, 2005: Sri Lanka and Malaysia have signed an open skies agreement in an attempt to increase airline frequencies between the two countries. The new agreement replaces the existing one, which was signed in 1969 and was renewed on 1979.
The new agreement provides for an open skies policy keeping with current aviation trends and grants rights to both the countries airlines to operate traffic between the nations.
Delegations representing the two country’s governments met in Colombo earlier to discuss air service matters and negotiate new air services agreements, according to a joint press release.
The statement said that the airlines of the two countries could determine the frequency and capacity of the air services. The services would depend on the existing market conditions and prevailing rules and regulations.
Both the countries had agreed to increase frequencies up to seven per week with no restrictions on the number of frequencies or types of aircraft for freighter services.
Subsequently Aeronautical Authorities of Malaysia had agreed to grant five more frequencies to Sri Lankan Airlines under Temporary Operating Permits (TOP).
Sri Lanka has signed similar open skies agreements with US, Thailand, Singapore and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, talks to make an open skies policy between Europe and America are set to resume in October.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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