Oman reaches agreement with EU on liberalising air transport

Oman’s government has initialed a comprehensive air transport pact with the European Union, aiming for a five-year implementation which will eventually lead to a full ‘open skies’ arrangement. The Middle Eastern sultanate has bilateral third- and fourth-freedom rights with a number of EU countries – among them France, Germany and Italy – but is keen to liberalise its air transport accords with the region. Under the new agreement, negotiated over two years, Oman Air and SalamAir will be able to increase frequencies and expand their European networks, while EU carriers will be able to operate to all Omani airports. “Greater economic development through increased air traffic is just one of many benefits of an open skies agreement,” says Oman Civil Aviation Authority president Naif Bin Ali Al Abri. “We are extremely confident that the inherent opportunities for tourism and an entire eco-system of interconnected industries will flourish.”<br/>