The Chilean Civil Aeronautic Council (JAC) confirmed on Tuesday 4th September 2007 that an agreement has been signed between Chile and India, in which air cargo will be allowed to transit freely between the two nations. Dubbed ‘open skies’, the new understanding supersedes a previous agreement, in which such liberalisation was apparent, but in more restricted form. Now, as per a Chilean Government statement: “unlimited numbers of these (cargo) services from and to Chile or India, using any type of aircraft and with full traffic rights to, from, or via any intermediary" will be granted.
The statement confirmed that the agreement excludes “cabotage� – the movement of cargo by an overseas carrier within two hubs located in the same country.
Referring to India, the JAC’s secretary general, Jorge Frei, highlighted the significance of the newly-refined tie-up. "We’re allowing operators to transport cargo to a gigantic market, whose foreign trade grew 162 percent last year", he said.
Mr Frei added: “This is a substantial step for the national aeronautics market to continue growing and improving connectivity with the (world’s) centers of development". His comments came from New Delhi, where the agreement was signed in partnership with the adjunct secretary to India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, R.K. Singh.
The Chilean Government also described the agreement’s potential in helping to swell the volume of passengers travelling between India and Chile. As identified by Mr Frei: "It will significantly liberalize air passenger transport, helping airlines to establish operations or sell fares to Chile or India, helping to encourage the arrival of tourists from India."
According to the Chilean Government, since 2002, a six-fold increase in trade involving India has been recorded. In 2006, the South American nation exported goods to India valued at $1.49 billion in total, with $164.5 million going the other way.
Source – Freight International’s Sub Editor
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