Asian airfreight liberalisation breakthrough

A meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has produced a breakthrough airfreight liberalisation agreement. The ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services (AFAFIST) are two landmark agreements shaping the route for the single aviation market in ASEAN.

In a joint statement, the transport ministers responsible said: “The business community and travelling public stand to benefit from unrestricted access to all ASEAN cities for cargo services and to all ASEAN capital cities for passenger services.

“[The AFAFIST] will greatly facilitate seamless regional cargo transportation. The agreement puts in place the final enabling framework to support a harmonised, integrated and efficient transport logistics and facilitation environment in ASEAN.”

The details will be discussed at the next meeting in 2009.