Cabinet approves revised Air Services Agreement between India, Nigeria

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval for signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Nigeria.

The earlier agreement was signed on in January, 1978. The updation of the agreement is as per latest International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) template keeping in view of latest developments in civil aviation sector and with an objective to improve the air connectivity between the two countries.

The revised agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Nigeria and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The features of the new Air Services Agreement include both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airlines; the designated airlines of either country shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion and sale of air services; both sides agreed to operate any number of all Cargo services between each other's territory with any type of aircraft with full 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights; the designated airline will be free to decide tariffs in respect of the agreed services at reasonable levels based on the commercial considerations.

The agreement also mentions that the designated airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party and other party; as per new provision, each side shall be entitled to operate a maximum of 7 frequencies per week in each direction on the routes specified in the Route Schedule; apart from the above, the new ASA also has the provisions relating to Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing operations of agreed services, Routing Flexibility, Commercial Opportunities, Aviation safety, Aviation security related clause etc. in the line of Indian model ASA.