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Archive -Diplomacy

Seychelles, Czech Republic sign air transport accord |10 June 2016

 

 

 

 

More flexible air transport operations between the Czech Republic and Seychelles are expected by the end of this year or early next year now that the two countries have officially signed an Air Transport Agreement.

The Czech ambassador to Seychelles  Karel Hejč and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan signed the agreement in a ceremony at the  ministry’s headquarters Maison Quéau de Quinssy yesterday morning.

This was in the presence of the chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Gilbert Faure, the chief executive of Air Seychelles Roy Kinnear  as well as other officials from the mentioned ministry.

The agreement provides for:

• codesharing between the two countries’ airlines as well as with airlines of third countries,

• multi-designation of airlines,

• use of intermodal services such as land or sea transportation as a continuity of the air services, as well  as

• a route schedule which permits both airlines to operate to any intermediate points and any beyond points as part of the routes operated between the two countries.

Speaking after the signing Ambassador Hejč said the important agreement will enhance bilateral relations between our two countries.

“Our countries may seem to have limited relations due to geographical facts but however I believe that our relations are more than just standard relations between two friendly countries and I hope that the number of tourists coming from the Czech Republic to Seychelles every year is proof of that considering that the Czech Republic is a small landlocked country with 10 million people,” said Ambassador Hejč.

“I am very much hopeful that this agreement will give the necessary boost to our national transport agencies, private carriers and the Seychellois economy which depends on the tourism industry,” the ambassador added.

On behalf of the government, Minister Morgan expressed gratitude to the Czech government for making the signing of the agreement possible.

“It is an important agreement which apart from strengthening ties between the two countries will also open new possibilities for our respective carriers to be able to join together in codeshare agreements  and to provide the connectivity not only between our two countries but also on beyond points between our countries,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that the agreement also offers the possibility to ensure that our countries continue to develop air transport links which are so important when doing business, for trade and for tourism.

Tourism arrivals from the Czech Republic continues to grow from 1,303 in 2010 to 2,558 visitors by the end of last year.

Other than tourism, Minister Morgan also welcomed the possibility to increase trade significantly between the two countries which almost doubled in 2014.

Mr Faure said the Czech Republic and other countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans represent great future opportunities for Seychelles and the national airline which will continue to seek partnerships that will deepen our presence in these markets.

Following the signing, the agreement will now be presented to the two countries’ parliaments before being ratified by their respective heads of State.

 

 

 

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