Transport Minister, Her Excellency Dipuo Peters, together with her counterpart the Minister of Transport in the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Yamaha Mukanga yesterday 11 December 2013, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement in Tshwane, Pretoria.
The Bilateral Air Services Agreement was signed on the backdrop of the International Air Services Negotiations (ICAN 2013) Conference taking place in Durban at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. The Conference, which South Africa is hosting under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) started on Monday, 9 December and will conclude on Friday, 13 December 2013.
The last consultations between the aeronautical authorities of the Governments of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia took place on 4 of March 2011, in Lusaka, Zambia. At this round of consultations, Parties agreed to move away from a restrictive framework that allowed for seat capacity, single designation of airlines and a restrictive route schedule.
As a result, Parties agreed to a liberal Agreement that is based on key principles of the Yamoussoukro Decision which includes an unlimited number of frequencies, open Intra-African 5th freedom traffic rights. The Yamoussoukro Decision concerns the liberalization of access to air transport markets in Africa adopted by the Heads of State and Government in Lome, Togo, on 12 July 2000 respectively.
This Agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia will create conditions for the emergence of viable and quality African air transport that meets the integration imperatives of the Continent, enhanced connectivity, intra-African trade and tourism.
The agreement will further impact positively on the growth of the economy in line with the National Development Plan.
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