Middle East Air Services Negotiations
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The Department held air services negotiations with the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai on 20 March 2007 and in Abu Dhabi on 21 March 2007. The negotiations finalised new air services arrangements which permit UAE carriers to double the number of services between the UAE and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth by 2011
The new arrangements do not alter traffic rights or other commercial arrangements available to carriers of each side. Australian carriers retain unrestricted rights beyond the UAE, and carriers of the UAE retain the right to operate services beyond Australia to two points in New Zealand.
Australian Carriers
Capacity for Australian carriers operating to the UAE has been increased as set out in the table below.
| Date of increase | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Other points in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous arrangements | 56 flights per week to any point(s) in the UAE | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of 21 March 2007 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2008 | Additional 14 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2009 | Additional 14 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2010 | Additional 14 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2011 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| TOTAL as of March 2011: | 112 flights per week | Unrestricted | |||
UAE Carriers Route A - Dubai
UAE carriers whose principal place of business is Dubai, such as Emirates, operate on Route A. Capacity for UAE carriers on Route A is set out in the table below.
| Date of increase | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Other points in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous arrangements | 14 flights per week |
14 flights per week |
7 7 |
Unrestricted | |
| Increase as of 21 March 2007 | No increase | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) other than Sydney | Unrestricted | ||
| Increase as of March 2008 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2009 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2010 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2011 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| TOTAL as of March 2011: | 84 flights per week - maximum of 21 flights per week to any one point | Unrestricted | |||
UAE Carriers Route B - points other than Dubai
UAE carriers whose principal place of business is Abu Dhabi operate on Route B. Etihad Airways will commence operations on Route B on 27 March 2007. Capacity for UAE carriers on Route B is set out in the table below.
| Date of increase | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Other points in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous arrangements | 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2008 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2009 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| Increase as of March 2010 | Additional 7 flights per week to any point(s) | Unrestricted | |||
| TOTAL as of March 2011: | 28 flights per week - maximum of 14 flights per week to any one point | Unrestricted | |||
QATAR
Air services negotiations held by the Department with the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar in Doha on 14-15 March 2007 resulted in the new air services arrangements which provide airlines of both sides with additional capacity entitlements.
The new arrangements provide airlines of both sides with unrestricted capacity to and from all points in Australia other than Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Qatari carriers may operate seven services weekly to Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Australian carriers may operate seven services weekly to Qatar from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and/or Perth. Twelve months after an airline of either side commences operations, airlines of each side may operate an additional seven weekly services between Qatar and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and/or Perth.
Australian carriers may operate services beyond Qatar to a maximum of ten points in the Middle East, the United Kingdom/Europe, and Africa. Qatari carriers may operate services beyond Australia to points in New Zealand.
For additional information, please contact:
Mr Samuel Lucas
Assistant Section Head Bilateral Aviation
Phone (02) 6274 6532
Fax (02) 6274 6749
Email Samuel.Lucas@infrastructure.gov.au