WAM Dubai, 1st Oct, 2009 The United Arab Emirates has agreed for an “Open Sky” Air service agreement with Zambia.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Chitalu Kabalika, Director General of Civil Aviation of Zambia signed the agreement.

Representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia, attended the negotiations.

The two sides agreed that any number of designated airlines of both parties will have the right to perform scheduled air services. The UAE Delegation designated Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, RAK Airways, Air Arabia and FlyDubai as UAE national airlines under the Agreement.

The Zambian Delegation will designate its airlines under the agreement in due course of time.

The agreement allows unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the Designated Airlines of each country in any type of service (passenger or cargo) on the routes between Zambia and the UAE.

The agreement also includes, in addition to the third and fourth freedoms, the practice of full fifth freedom traffic rights on all points of their choice without any restriction while operating any type of services (passenger and/or cargo, separately or in combination).

In addition, both Parties agreed to allow unrestricted non-scheduled operations between the two countries and to recommend to their authorities to conclude an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on revenues arising from their airlines’ activities and income earned by their employees when stationed in the territory of the other party.

Zambia Delegation has also informed their support to the candidature of the UAE to the Council of ICAO at the elections to be held in 2010 during the coming ICAO General Assembly.