UAE signs “Open” Air Services Agreement with Panama

Press release

Published September 27th, 2011 - 07:37 GMT

Al Bawaba

The United Arab Emirates has signed an “open” Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Panama in Panama City this 23 September 2011. This Agreement was initialed by the Aeronautical authorities of both countries on 15 November 2010 and its signature will boost the cooperation in the air transport sector.

The agreement was signed by H.E Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Mr. Rafael Barcenas, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama.

The Agreement allows full flexibility on the routes, capacity, number of frequencies and types of aircraft, in any type of service (passenger or cargo). The signed Agreement also includes the exercise of fifth freedom traffic rights. In addition, both Parties agreed to allow unrestricted non-scheduled operations between Panama and the UAE.

Background Information

General Civil Aviation Authority

The General Civil Aviation Authority was created in 1996 by Federal Cabinet Decree (Law 4) to regulate Civil Aviation and provide designated aviation services with observance to the safety and security to strengthen the aviation industry within the UAE and its upper space. Since 1996 the Authority has made considerable progress and embarked on bold new initiatives to provide a better service to its civil aviation clients and stakeholders. Since 1996 many new projects and innovations have been initiated with generally excellent result, such as modernization of the air traffic control center program, Radar equipments and establishing of new facilities to serve the growth of the civil aviation within the UAE.