The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Civil Aviation Authority, signed an Air Services Agreement today in daralsalm with the United Republic of Tanzania. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Engineer Naif bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Abri, President of the Civil Aviation Authority, from the Omani side, and by Hon. Prof Makame M. Mbarawa, The Minister of Transport United Republic of Tanzania side, in the presence of several diplomats from both countries and officials from the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authorities of both countries.

This agreement updates the one signed between the governments of the two countries in 1982 concerning air services between their regions and beyond, in line with regional and international developments in the field of air transport. The updated agreement is based on the principles of open skies between the two countries, allowing airlines to operate any number of direct flights between the two friendly nations. It aims to regulate operational and technical aspects in a manner that serves the mutual interests in organizing air transport services between the two countries.

The agreement includes 24 articles in addition to an annex detailing the air routes between the two countries. These articles encompass economic provisions and provisions for regulatory and operational cooperation, enabling designated airlines to operate passenger and cargo flights between the airports of both countries. Additionally, airlines of both countries can enter into cooperative arrangements for code-sharing on flights operated by carriers of both nations.

During the signing ceremony, His Excellency Engineer Naif bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Abri, President of the Civil Aviation Authority, delivered a speech in which he praised the deep historical and social relations between the two countries. He called on the national airlines of both sides to activate the agreement by expanding their operational networks and increasing the frequency of direct flights between the airports of both countries. This, he noted, would contribute to enhancing trade and tourism exchange and to the development of economic and social activities.

It is worth mentioning that the Sultanate of Oman has bilateral agreements in the field of air transport with numerous countries around the world, totaling 125 countries. These agreements aim to regulate air transport services, including technical and operational aspects, and to strengthen relations in the field of air transport and civil aviation with other countries.