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2008-03-10
NORTH/SOUTH AMERICA NEWS
Canada, Barbados Sign Air Transport Agreement (March 4th)
Canada Announces Open Skies Agreement With Barbados
Transport Canada
http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2008/08-h067e.htm
Canada and Barbados have negotiated an air services agreement which will allow unlimited scheduled air services between cities in the two countries. The new agreement will also boost air cargo by providing all-cargo air carriers with greater flexibility. “The new provisions are applied immediately. Once ratified, the new agreement will replace the 1985 agreement currently in force.”
EUROPE NEWS
New Safety Guidelines Require English for Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers (March 7th)
English To Become Compulsory For Pilots
Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/761307/English-to-become-compulsory-for-pilots.html
Several hundred thousand people worldwide will be affected by recent changes to safety standards introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ICAO will now call for pilots and air traffic controllers to speak English at major international airports. “Exemption, however, will be given for smaller air strips where the potential for linguistic confusion does not arise.”
ASIA/PACIFIC NEWS
Malaysia, Australia Sign MoU to Increase Capacity (March 7th)
Malaysia And Australia Expand Seats On Flights
Bernama.com
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=319073
Malaysia and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will increase the number of seats on routes between the two countries. An additional 5,000 seats a week will be added to major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth starting this month and 3,500 more will be added starting March 2009. Australian travelers, trade and tourism are expected to benefit as a result of the new agreement.
Singapore, Portugal Reach Open Skies Agreement (March 4th)
Singapore Concludes Open Skies Agreement With Portugal
Travel Daily News
http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/24755
After air services consultations that took place last month, Singapore and Portugal have concluded an Open Skies Agreement (OSA). This agreement will enable carriers from both sides to operate any number of flights between the two countries, as well as points beyond. “This agreement will become fully effective in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Scheduling Season for Northern Summer in year 2010.”
Australia Issues Trans-shipment Cargo Guidelines (March 4th)
Customs Issues Trans-Shipment Cargo Guidelines
Aircargo Asia-Pacific
http://www.impactpub.com.au/aircargo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1286&Itemid=60#begin
Australian customs has issued reporting guidelines for trans-shipment cargo through Australia. The document addresses guidelines for handling and reporting trans-shipment cargo, including different situations where cargo may be trans-shipped. The full report is available via the Australian government’s Customs Service website.
Philippines Established New Regulatory Authority (March 3rd)
Philippines Reforms Aviation Sector After FAA Downgrade
AFP
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5grtvTKfyUxQFR5r9xCU3LiVNxHyA
The Philippines government will establish a new regulatory authority to replace the Air Transportation Office (ATO). The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will reform the country’s aviation sector and bring it up to international safety standards. Leaders hope that the country’s air safety rating can be raised to Category 1 within four months.
AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST NEWS
African Governments Discuss Sharing National Carrier (March 7th)
Nigeria: Arik May Become National Carrier to Four Nations
AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803070042.html
Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading domestic carrier has begun weighing the possibility of being the national carrier of four African countries. Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana and Niger have already begun talks with the carrier in this regard. Later this month Arik representatives and Nigerian officials are scheduled to meet with the British government to negotiate a new bilateral air services agreement.
Third Round of Sanctions Against Iran Adopted by UN (March 3rd)
UN Votes To Add Sanctions Against Iran
International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/03/america/iran.php
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a third resolution against Iran. In addition to travel and asset restrictions already in place, the resolution also “authorizes inspections of cargo to and from Iran that is suspected of carrying prohibited equipment…” This resolution extends the reach of punishments in the two previous resolutions, but does not make them any tougher.
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