Japan and United States expand air services arrangements

A 14 September 2007 Financial Times article carried by MSNBC reports on a limited expansion in the air services arrangements between Japan and the United States of America. This is the first amendment to the arrangements since 1998.

Peter Gordon on "Food Miles"

UK-based New Zealand chef Peter Gordon has written a well researched article in the Independent on the "food miles" debate.

The key message is that just because produce may have travelled further one should not assume that the environmental impact of its production and distribution is higher.

Canada and New Zealand negotiate new "Blue Sky" air transport agreement

On 7 September 2007 New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced UPDATED the negotiation of a new "Blue Sky" air transport agreement between New Zealand and Canada following a meeting with her Canadian counterpart. Some further details are given in a media statement by the Canadian Ministers of Transport and International Trade.

We negotiated the new agreement in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Air New Zealand is to commence non-stop flights between Auckland and Vancouver in November 2007.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprises bid for Auckland International Airport Limited hits turbulence

On 31 August 2007 Bloomberg reported that a $5.6 billion bid announced on 23 July 2007 for Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Limited (DAE) had run into further difficulties. AIAL released a media statement on the latest developments. The NZ Herald reported in depth on 1 September 2007 and the Herald on Sunday of 2 September 2007 carried commentary written by Fran O'Sullivan.

The day the proposed deal was announced the Leader of the New Zealand First Party, Rt Hon Winston Peters (who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs) made a media release reacting to the proposal. On 8 August 2007 the NZ Herald reported on comments made by the Trade Minister, Phil Goff.

The 22 July 2007 Merger Implementation Agreement between DAE and AIAL has some interesting provisions relating to Tourism Growth and air services, in particular by Emirates, in an attached Co-operation Agreement (see section 4).

India and Malaysia liberalise air services arrangements

On 16 July 2007 the official Government of India Press Information Bureau announced that air services negotiations held between India and Malaysia on 12-13 July 2007 had lead to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that provides for a major opening up of air routes between the two countries, cargo services, code sharing and multiple designation.

A 19 July 2007 report in the International Herald Tribune provides background.

Australia and South Korea negotiate additional air service opportunities

On 27 August 2007 Australian Minister for Transport, Mark Vaile, announced that Australia has concluded new air services arrangements with South Korea. As well as a passenger capacity increase, all restrictions on the operation of freighter services have been removed and restrictions on the ability of both countries' airlines to access intermediate and beyond point hub markets have been reduced.