Cabinet sanctions air services agreement between India and Guyana

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the signing of an Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana.

The air services agreement will enter into force after the parties exchange diplomatic notes confirming that each side has completed the necessary internal procedures to enter into the agreement, according to a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry. The signing of the Air Services Agreement with Guyana will enable a framework for the provision of air services between the two countries, the report added.

Due to the growing aviation market and developments such as the liberalization of the aviation sector in India, Air Services Agreements have been signed with many countries, paving the way for international air connectivity. The Air Services Agreement provides a legal framework for air operations between the two countries that is based on the principles of sovereignty of nations, nationality of carriers and reciprocity in terms of business opportunities for each party's designated airlines.

There is currently no Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana.

According to the 2012 census, Indians are the largest ethnic group comprising about 40 percent of the population and have a significant presence in Guyana.

India and Guyana are signatories to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

The report further states that delegations representing India and Guyana met in Nassau, Bahamas on 6 December 2016 during the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting on air services, where the two countries initialed the text of the ASA agreement for scheduled air services between the two countries under the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Guyana.

The new air services agreement will provide an enabling environment for better and seamless connectivity while providing business opportunities for carriers on both sides, the report added.