Asean’s Open Sky Approach Benefits Industry, Says MAHB

By Hamisah Hamid

THE aviation industry and consumers in the region are benefiting from the Asean way of liberalising the industry, although it may not be the same as the US-European Union (EU) Open Skies Agreement, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Seri Bashir Ahmad said.

He said Asean, which was established based on consensus among member countries, is not a legal entity that could negotiate for open sky agreements with other countries or groupings.

Currently, Asean countries negotiate air transport agreement bilaterally, depending on the needs of airlines in the respective countries.

“Our way is beneficial to customers as we have our own way of increasing our frequencies,” he said on the sidelines of Routes Leaders Forum, held in conjunction with the ongoing 14th World Route Development Forum (Routes KL) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Earlier, during a session on “Beyond Open Skies”, Bashir said Asean’s existing approach on open sky is benefiting the industry and the passengers.

For instance, when the government allowed Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia to fly on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore sector early this year, the market grew by 10 per cent from 1.3 per cent in 2006- 2007.

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