On 17 October 2022, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) signed the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement between the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the European Union and its Member States (“ASEAN-EU CATA”). The ASEAN-EU CATA is the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement and will allow airlines of ASEAN and the EU to have more opportunities to operate passenger and cargo services between and beyond both regions.
Under the agreement, airlines of ASEAN and the EU will be able to fly any number of passenger and cargo services between both regions. In addition, airlines of each country of one bloc will be able to fly up to 14 weekly passenger services and any number of cargo services to each country of the other bloc with 5th freedom traffic rights, via any third country or beyond to any third country. Travellers can stand to benefit from direct access to new destinations, more flights between major ASEAN and European hubs, and a greater network of flights between and beyond ASEAN and the EU. The agreement also provides for cooperation between ASEAN and the EU in areas such as aviation safety, air traffic management, consumer protection, and environmental and social issues.
The ASEAN Transport Ministers also agreed to sign the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Cooperation. The agreement, together with the ASEAN Search and Rescue Standard Operating Procedures (SAR-SOP) adopted in 2018, aims to raise the level of coordination among ASEAN Member States on SAR activities.
Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Mr S Iswaran, said, “The signing of the landmark ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement is a strong testament of region-to-region collaboration between
ASEAN and the EU. It is a forward-looking and ambitious statement of our commitment to a safe, sustainable and resilient aviation future. Meanwhile, the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Cooperation will enhance SAR cooperation in the region. Singapore will continue to work closely with our EU and ASEAN partners to achieve these goals for the benefit of our people and economies.”
These agreements were signed following the conclusion of the 28th ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting and associated meetings with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, which took place on 16 and 17 October 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.
At the meeting, ASEAN Transport Ministers also discussed regional cooperation in air, land, and sea transport, and met with their counterparts from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Minister Iswaran was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA), and Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
