India-Japan ink open sky agreement

India and Japan have agreed to ink open sky arrangement to allow airlines from both countries to operate unlimited number of flights.
In this regard, both countries exchanged RoD (Record of Discussions) on civil aviation cooperation with respect to open sky. It was exchanged after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shino Abe.

Key Facts

The open sky agreement will be signed in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy (NACP), 2016. It will not only help to encourage connectivity and passenger travel between two countries, but also result in reduction in airfares on the air routes between two countries.

NACP 2016

The NACP allows government to enter into ‘open sky’ air services agreement on reciprocal basis with SAARC nations as well as countries with territory located entirely beyond a 5,000 kilometre radius from New Delhi. So far, India signed open sky agreement with Greece, Jamaica, Guyana, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Sri Lanka. India and US had signed bilateral open sky agreement in 2005. India also had signed open sky agreement with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2003.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2017