Fiji, Turkey sign flying deal
7-Oct-2009 09:30 AM

A Fiji  Government delegation that left for Istanbul, Turkey last  weekend led by the Director of Civil aviation, Akuila Makutu Waradi had
successfully signed off on a Fiji/Turkey Memorandum of Understanding.

The Fiji delegation included Christopher Pryde, Solicitor General and Dallas Foon, General Manager – strategic planning, Air Pacific.

The mou is the prelude to the newly negotiated air services agreement proper that the Fiji delegation had also concluded with Turkey at this week’s ‘icao air services negotiations conference’.

The conference ended yesterday in Istanbul.

The text of the mou was duly agreed to and appropriately  initialled  by the respective delegations leaders.

The ASA effectively permits the designated airlines of either party to operate two daily passenger flights and a daily cargo flight between Ankara/Istanbul and Nadi/Nausori. The agreed services can commence immediately.

The ASA will be signed off by the respective Aeronautical Authorities at a mutually agreed date and venue. The Fiji delegation had offered to the Turkish delegation for the signing of the ASA to be held in Fiji.

The event is in itself historical in that it is a breakthrough in our government’s ongoing efforts to access the lucrative markets of Europe and the Middle East neatly dovetailing into our “Look North Policy”.

Significantly for Fiji we are entering into a partnership with a key global  aviation player whose influence in Europe and the Middle East region continues to grow.

In our ongoing pursuit to expand our air transport links  worldwide the driving forces have remained the nation’s economy, the safety and comfort of the travelling public and the viability of our national airline.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation & Civil aviation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola had mandated the delegation to proceed in negotiating with the Government of the Republic of Turkey the establishment  of a bilateral air service agreement. The negotiation was preceded by a seminar on international air transport regulation and liberalisation.

The ICAN 2009 is the 2nd such international
conference to be held.

The first was hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai last year.

The objective of this ICAO sponsored conference is to get  the 190 member States of ICAO on to one location where they can negotiate air services arrangements with other states of their choice.

The ICAN is both a useful forum to convene air transport seminars like that held and  economical for purpose of conducting multiple ASA consultations.  

A total of 50 states attended the 2009 ICAN represented by more than 200 participants.

There were 200 separate meetings and consultations held during the week-long conference.

And a total of 50 ASA and Mou were signed off and concluded.

Fiji had two ASA formal meetings and three informal meetings. The three informal meetings were with India, Singapore and Hong Kong resulting in principled agreements for formal ASA consultations in India and Singapore in  January and the signing off on the Fiji/Hong Kong ASA that was negotiated in April 2009.

The ASA talks with the UAE to be concluded at a later date.

The Fiji/Turkey ASA when signed will lead to meaningful bilateral  relationship between Fiji and Turkey in areas of trade and tourism. Turkey has one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world. for 2008 the Turkish tourism industry brought in $8 billion representing 79
million visitors.

Turkey targets that by 2026 a return on investment from the tourism industry of $1.35
trillion liras and ultimately having every Turkish emplaning once in their lives.

This target is possible given that Turkey has 5 national airlines, 828 aircraft and 67 airports of which 23 are international airports. turkey is also a leading player in the establishment of green airports promoting environmentally friendly programmings.

Fiji can take a leaf or 2 from the Turkish experiences. The Turkish Airline is one of the few international airlines in the world that continued to make profits inspite of the world economic recession that had bankrupted many competitors.

The meeting also agreed to encourage increased airline cooperation/alliances. The establishment of commercial air services arrangements is preferred in today’s world aviation mindful of its cost savings effect and the convenience it brings to international travelers.

The consultation was held in an environment of collaboration, respect, cooperation and comradeship.The Fiji delegation acknowledged the warmth and
the willingness shown by the Turkish Government to enter into urgent dialogue with Fiji on the establishment of these air linkages.