Sri Lanka-Kuwait sign open skies regime

AGREEMENT: Sri Lanka and Kuwait have agreed on an open skies air services regime.

This would enable airlines of both countries to operate an unlimited number of services between Sri Lanka and Kuwait with the possibility of serving intermediate points enroute, or extending services to points beyond Kuwait and Sri Lanka

Minister of Ports and Aviation Mangala Samaraweera has directed Aviation authorities to further expand these market development initiatives under the vision of the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework.

SriLankan Airlines currently operates nine flights a week of which 7 flights operate via Dubai. Kuwait Airways operates four flights per week. The air services between the two countries cater primarily to the large Sri Lankan expatriate community in Kuwait.

Sri Lanka has been progressively liberalising its air services agreements with several of its bilateral partners, on the basis of mutual benefit.

Sri Lanka has already negotiated open air agreements with United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland and Egypt.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by the, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation and comprised senior officials of the Ministries of Ports and Aviation, Tourism, Foreign Affairs and representatives from the Attorney General?s Department and SriLankan Air Lines.