India And Hong Kong Arrive At Bilateral Traffic Rights Agreement

The long-standing deadlock on the issue of bilateral traffic rights between India and Hong Kong was broken with the two sides arriving at an agreement after prolonged discussions held at New Delhi on 17-18 December, 2007. The Indian delegation was led by Shri R.K. Singh, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation while the Hong Kong delegation was led by Mr. Esmond Lee, Deputy Secretary, Transport and Housing Bureau, Hong Kong.

As per the new agreement, 27 new services for each side will be possible on the Indian Hong Kong route. While the Indian side can operate these 27 services from any point in India, the Hong Kong carriers can operate 10 services to Delhi, 6 services to Mumbai and 11 services altogether to Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta. Chennai was added as a new point of call during these talks for the Hong Kong side.

An agreement was also reached meaning that out of the 27 services, the Indian carriers will be able to operate 14 services to West Coast North America including the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. Reciprocally, the Hong Kong carrier can operate through India on 14 services to Europe excluding UK.

The two sides also entered into a liberalized code share agreement which will enable the airlines of the two sides to code share through their respective territories to any beyond point either with each other as carriers or with a third country carrier. Indian carriers are already looking at serving New Zealand through a code share via Hong Kong with Air New Zealand.

With this agreement, there will be greater competition on the India Hong Kong route and the direct services between India and Hong Kong are likely to increase boosting trade and tourism.

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