UAE initials 'Open Sky' Air Services Agreement with Estonia

The agreement was signed by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Eero Pargmae, Deputy Secretary General for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia.

Representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and RAK Airways, attended the negotiations.

The two delegations agreed that any number of designated airlines of both parties will have the right to perform scheduled air services. The UAE Delegation designated Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, RAK Airways, Air Arabia and FlyDubai as UAE national airlines under the Agreement. The Estonia Delegation will designate its airlines under the agreement in due course.

The agreement allows unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the Designated Airlines of each country in any type of service (passenger or cargo) on the routes between Estonia and the UAE.

The agreement also includes, in addition to the third and fourth freedoms, the practice of full fifth freedom traffic rights on all points of their choice without any restriction while operating any type of services (passenger and/or cargo, separately or in combination).

In addition, both Parties agreed to allow unrestricted non-scheduled operations between the two countries and to recommend to their authorities to conclude an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on revenues arising from their airlines' activities and income earned by their employees when stationed in the territory of the other party.