Thailand signs new air services agreements with Denmark, Norway and Sweden

On 16 October 2010 ScandAsia.com reported on the signing the previous day of new air services agreements between Thailand and Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The new agreements replace those signed in 1949. Thai and SAS have long historic links.

Danish top visa-free entry to other countries

On 5 March 2009 The Economist carried a chart showing some countries ranked by how many other countries their citizens had travel visa free access to.

This index was compiled by Henley & Partners and their fuller listing is also available online. Denmark ranks number one while New Zealand ranks eighth equal with Singapore.

Belgium drops idea of taxing air passengers

On 7 November 2008 the Association of European Airlines (AEA) commented on the decision of the Belgian Government dropped its plan to impose a ticket tax on air passengers. The AEA noted similar moves in Denmark last year and in Malta this month.

Singapore concludes "open skies" agreements with Denmark, Norway and Sweden

On 29 January 2008 Singapore announced that it had concluded "open skies" air services agreements with Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The three new agreements include an exchange of seventh freedom cargo rights.

Because of the unusual ownership of Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS Group), these three countries negotiate air services arrangements as a bloc.

This brings the total number of "open skies" relationships Singapore has to 20, 13 of which are with European Union countries.

Scandinavian Airlines System licensed to serve New Zealand

The licensing of international airlines to serve New Zealand is done under the Civil Aviation Act 1990. Notification of the issue of new licences and those that have been amended appears in the weekly, official New Zealand Gazette.

Notice of the most recent international airline to be licensed, Star Alliance member Scandinavian Airlines System (SK), appeared on page 1507 of the 31 May 2007 issue of the Gazette. This follows its separate designation by Denmark, Norway and Sweden under their virtually identical bilateral air services agreements with New Zealand. SAS had announced last year its intention to code share on Thai (TG) operations to Auckland (AKL).

On the same page of the Gazette there is also notice that the licence held by Air China (CA) has been amended to permit the airline greater route and capacity flexibility when code sharing on a New Zealand airline.