Open skies policy for investment companies [Archives:2007/1033/Local News]

ADEN, 12 March ) Themed “Open Skies”, the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology organised a workshop on Sunday, 11 March. The work shop was attended by the Minister of Transport Omar Mohsen Al-Amodi, Aden Governor Ahmed Al-Kuhlani and other officials.

According to Al-Amodi, liberalising access to Aden Airport’s airspace falls under the government’s remit to implement resolutions and measures that aim to liberate the skies across the republic in order to cope with the latest industry developments in air transport. He added that the liberalisation of the skies over Yemen would help further develop tourism and attract investments due to the centrality of airports in Yemen’s logistics and transport infrastructure.

For his part, Al-Kuhlani expressed his happiness with the opening of Aden’s skies to international aviation stressing the positive benefits that would follow such as attracting further investment to Aden, the economic capital of Yemen.

Many papers were presented during the workshop. A paper by the Aviation Authority, for instance, addressed the issue of the general administration of Aden Airport. Other papers dealt with the role of the Free Zone, Commerce Chamber and the General Authority for Investment.

Hamed Farj, the chairman of the Aviation Authority, announced that all flights heading to Aden would be exempted from fees. He further assured that this exemption period will be extended to six hours instead of three, adding that they would provide all the required facilities for companies wishing to provide such services.

The workshop’s recommendations included reconsideration of current fuelling fees, evaluation of the quality services available to airlines and supplying additional facilities for customs and security to help increase the number of passengers and cargo thus boosting imports and exports.

[Archives:2007/1033/Local News]