Russia has agreed to develop aviation in Africa and boost co-operation with African countries, including Ethiopia and Tanzania, by signing new air services agreements with the countries which attended the second Russia-Africa summit held in St Petersburg at the end of last month.
Igor Chalik, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport, and Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement to develop the air transport line between their two countries, reports Simple Flying.
The agreement aims to establish efficient and regular air transport services between the two countries to boost trade and economic development. It includes enacting legislation regarding national carriers, recognition of airworthiness certificates and co-operation in ensuring flight safety standards in line with ICAO standards.
Russian authorities also negotiated a new deal with Tanzania to strengthen aviation ties and revamp post-pandemic air transport activity. The two governments negotiated a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement, noting that the previous ones had been severely affected by the pandemic.
According to the Tanzania CAA, the new agreement will give Tanzanian airlines access to three entry points in Russia: Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, while Russian carriers will get access to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The negotiations also included provisions for codesharing to maximise airline profits.
Negotiations involved discussions on the employment of fifth freedom traffic rights by Russian and Tanzanian airlines, under which they will fly to both countries and on to a third country upon mutual agreement by the respective authorities.
