UAE signs air services agreement with Vietnam

The agreement was initialed by Laila Ali Bin Hareb, Executive Director of Strategy '&' International Affairs GCAA and Vo Huy Cuong, Director of Air Transport Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam . Representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation, Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline and RAK Airways attended the negotiations.

The two delegations agreed that any number of designated airlines of both parties will have the right to perform scheduled air services. The UAE delegation designated Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, RAK Airways and FlyDubai as UAE national airlines under the Agreement. The Vietnamese Delegation designated Vietnam Airline as its designated airlines.

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

Commenting on this agreement, Laila Hareb, said: "The signed MoU between UAE and Vietnam considered the most open air services MoU signed by Vietnam Government. It is followed a recent high ranking official visit by UAE government to Vietnam to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and communication with Vietnam to achieve common interests, and opens up horizons of joint trade and investment specially in infrastructure and energy, tourism and aviation". She added.

Hareb continued: "The UAE considered one of biggest investors in Vietnam with the total capital of on-going projects amounting to US$3 billion which imposes the need to open skies to facilitate the trade between the two countries".