By Xinhua
Hong Kong : India and Hong Kong have successfully concluded air services arrangements with substantial liberalization of the bilateral air services, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Thursday.
Under the new arrangements, the airlines of the two sides will be able to increase services to New Delhi and Mumbai by more than double the existing level, which is at present about 20 frequencies per week.
New services to India’s IT hub Bangalore and Chennai will also be possible.
The two sides have also exchanged new fifth freedom rights. For example, Indian airlines will be able to operate services to points in North America via Hong Kong under the new arrangements. Hong Kong airlines will be able to operate services to points in Europe beyond India.
Fifth freedom right is one in a set of aviation rights which allows an airline to carry passengers to a second country, and in a connecting flight, to a third country.
“The new arrangements between the two sides are a major step forward in the bilateral aviation relationship,” said Eva Cheng, secretary for Transport and Housing of the HKSAR government.
“This is very good news for the airlines of the two sides. More competitive air services between Hong Kong and India will definitely benefit the travelling public,” she said.