Sunday, December 14, 2008

UAE-Iran bilateral



The states of UAE and Iran have signed a new air bilateral accord which has greatly liberalized the number of weekly flights and cities that can be flown by each country's respective designated airline. The main highlights of the new agreement given to UAE carriers are as follows:

a) Etihad can fly 43 times a week from AUH to 5 major Iranian cities.

b) Emirates and Fly Dubai combined can operate 84 flights per week to Iran's major cities.

c) Air Arabia of Sharjah can operate 49 weekly flights.

d) RAK Airways of Ras Al Khaimah is allowed to operate 39 weekly flights.

The major cities of Iran are designated as Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Esfahan, Kish and Bandar Abbas.

Comments:

From the looks of it, the only thing not given to EK and EY was the unofficial designation as Iran's national carrier. Seriously, between them they are allowed to fly 127 flights per week which is absurdly high. To make matters less complicated, Iran should have instead signed an open skies treaty with UAE rather than go through all this hassle of designating frequency rights because the amount of flights allowed per UAE carrier is virtually like an open skies deal !!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello Behramjee:

I commend you on your great reporting, and insight! It seems that Iran also has forged strong ties with Russia and Qatar. Is there a reason for all this activity to/from Iran, or is it just a matter of the opening of a new market-country that had not been allowed to travel freely?

Regards,

Mike