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BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS
"The Operation of international scheduled flights with traffic rights to
and from Pakistan is conducted in accordance with the bilateral air services
agreement (ASA). The ASA, which is concluded at the aeronautical authorities
level between two contracting states, clearly defines the rights/obligations
of the designated airlines of the two countries and also determines the
frequency of the flights to be allowed to each carrier along with the routes
to be flown and the capacity, i.e. the number of passengers or the quantum
of cargo/mail to be carried by each carrier. These rights, referred to as
traffic rights, are normally governed by the principle of reciprocity,
although it is up to the aeronautical authorities of the contracting states
to agree to any variation. Pakistan has concluded some 94 bilateral air
services agreements to date.
As the traffic rights exercised by the designated airlines under the ASA
need to be reviewed from time to time in the light of changing circumstances
and market conditions in the aviation industry, bilateral consultations at
the aeronautical authorities level become necessary for negotiating new
technical and operating conditions and effecting amendments or modifications
in the existing legal framework.
There are 32 foreign airlines presently operating schedules landing flights
to and from Pakistan with traffic rights, while there are some 70 foreign
airlines that presently over fly Pakistan on a scheduled basis.
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