 Print
Bilateral Agreements
Cyprus has so far, signed bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) with fifty-one (51) countries and has initialed such agreements with twenty-two (22) countries, with the purpose of regulating the framework of scheduled flights to and from Cyprus.
After Cyprus’ accession to the EU on 01/05/2004 and the consequent liberalization of services within the Union, the status of bilateral agreements with member countries, became inactive. Therefore, 22 out of 51 existing BASAs signed with member countries have become inactive while the rest concerning bilateral agreements with third countries, continue to exist.
According to Regulation (EC) 847/2004 all existing agreements with third countries should be amended or replaced to comply with the Acquis Communautaire on air transport. For this purpose they must include the Standard Clauses set by the EU, especially on the recognition of the term “Community air carrier” from the third country concerned. The amendment of a bilateral air service agreement between a member state and a third country gives the right to a community air carrier to perform the service that stems from the provisions of this bilateral aviation agreement, provided that there are available commercial rights. Additionally, the European Commission may amend the existing bilateral agreements of member states with a specific third country in order to avoid amendment through bilateral negotiations. The result of this procedure is known as a Horizontal Agreement.
The geographical position of Cyprus and its accession to the European Union create favorable conditions for the development of air transport. In the last three years, the Aeronautical Authorities of Cyprus had contacts with the respective Authorities of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Iraq and Russia. During these meetings the two parties signed memoranda designating airlines for the operation of the routes, increasing the frequency of flights, the number of airlines operating on the routes and the number of routes
|