9th Annual International Aviation Organisation’s Air Services Negotiation Conference (ICAN) Seychelles represented at major air services negotiations conference |12 December 2016

A Seychelles delegation was in Nassau, The Bahamas, last week to take part in the annual Air Services Negotiations Conference which is organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The delegation was led by the chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Gilbert Faure and comprised officials from the SCAA and Air Seychelles.

The December 5-9 event gathered delegations from over 100 ICAO member countries across the globe, in this one meeting point, where they were able to conduct multiple bilateral negotiations to discuss the commercial legal framework that is facilitating air access, commonly known as the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs).

One of the major topics of discussion during this event was how the regulatory regime promoting air transport liberalisation contribute to the growth of tourism in small island states like The Bahamas and Seychelles.

Delegations from all over the world learned about the current trends, discussed and exchanged experiences, and networked to enhance the business opportunities relating to air transport matters.

The Seychelles’ delegation conducted bilateral negotiations with approximately 20 countries of strategic importance. Discussions focused on the air services regime and how to reach an agreeable framework which will enable the future growth of the industry.

During the course of the week, Seychelles were expected to have bilateral negotiations with Turkey, Qatar, India, Mauritius, Poland, Canada, Nigeria, Albania, and Moldova among several others.

Alain St Ange, the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine said it the event is an excellent opportunity for Seychelles.

“Air transport is the conduit of over 80% of tourism flow to Seychelles, which means that we rely on the air services arrangements to boost growth in this mainstay industry for Seychelles. The air services conditions need to create an enabling environment that meets the modern requirement of commercial airline operation for the safe, secure and reliable air transport system.”

“Seychelles has an air transport policy in place to guide us in this area. It is in this spirit that in collaboration with partner countries we plan to boost air access potential for our own Air Seychelles as well as all other airlines because all countries will gain from the associated socio-economic benefits,” he added.

Mr Faure was accompanied by Alexandria Faure, Air Seychelles’ aeropolitical and government affairs manager; Florence Marengo, SCAA’s head of air transport and Thelma Dubignon, SCAA’s air transport assistant.