Aviation: Govt approves revised air services agreement between India and Morocco

The new accord will enable environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the airlines of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security, as two countries have potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges

In order to boost civil aviation relations between India and Morocco, the Union cabinet has approved the revised air services agreement (ASA) to be signed between the two nations yesterday. After the new air services agreement comes into force, the existing air services agreement of December 2004 shall stand superseded, said a government statement.

The new accord will enable environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the airlines of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security, as two countries have potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges

The existing air services agreement between India and Morocco was signed in year 2004 and does not have the updated clauses on Safety, Security, Designation of Airlines, Commercial Activities, Tariffs etc. Besides, the provisions of cooperative marketing arrangements, which enable both sides to establish the code share on each other flights and also on the flights of 3rd country carriers, were also not available in the agreement.

Major features of the agreement are:

1. Multiple designation of Airlines by each party;

2. The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party, other party and that of a third party;

3. This agreement allows designated airlines of either countries to establish offices in the territory of other country for the promotion and sale of air services;

4. The designated airlines of the both countries can operate any number of services to/from the six points specified in the Route Schedule to the ASA viz. Indian designated carriers can operate any number of services to/from Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, Agadir, Tangier and Fez in Morocco and similarly the designated carriers of Morocco can operate any number of services to/from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

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5. Air Services Agreement also has the provisions relating to Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing operations of agreed services, commercial opportunities, safety and security related clause etc. that have been incorporated in line of Indian Model ASA.

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