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.

Fourth round of EU-USA air services negotiations

A further three-day round of air services negotiations, the fourth in the second stage of the EU-USA "open skies" arrangements, commenced on 7 October 2009 in Washington DC (see previous post). Agreement was reached to include Norway and Iceland in the arrangements.

The next round is to start in Brussels on 9 November 2009.

Reports on the negotiations appeared in the Wall Street Journal (on 7 October 2009), Flight Global (on 9 October 2009), and from Dow Jones (on 9 October 2009).

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.