The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have signed a comprehensive air transport agreement that will open up more air transport opportunities and enhance direct connectivity between the two regions while upgrading rules and standards for concerned flights. 

In the announcement, the European Commission said the agreement will come into effect immediately and sets a global benchmark that makes all 37 countries in the two regions commit to fair competition and improving social and environmental conditions. 

The agreement would mean new opportunities for consumers, airlines and airports both in Europe and in ASEAN countries.

• It replaces more than 140 bilateral air services agreements, thereby providing a single set of rules and reducing red tape. EU Members States without any bilateral agreements with the ASEAN States are now also covered by a modern legal framework.
  
  
• All EU airlines will be able to operate direct flights from any airport in the EU to all airports in the ASEAN States, and vice versa for ASEAN airlines which will help EU and ASEAN airlines to compete with competitors targeting the lucrative EU-ASEAN market.
  
  
• Airlines will be able to fly up to 14 weekly passenger services to or from each EU Member State, and any number of cargo services via and beyond the two regions, to any third country (‘fifth freedom traffic rights').
  
  
• The agreement includes modern and fair competition provisions to address market distortions.
  

Fist bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement

EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said the agreement provides a new platform for the EU and the ASEAN to work jointly towards the shared commitment to economically, socially and environmentally sustainable aviation.

"This first-ever ‘bloc-to-bloc' air transport agreement brings the EU–ASEAN aviation partnership to a new level. It will support the aviation sector's recovery after COVID-19 and restore much-needed connectivity to the benefit of some 1.1 billion people, enabling greater business, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Vălean added, noting that this will also significantly cut red tape as it replaces more than 140 bilateral air services agreements.

ASEAN is a global economic powerhouse with a fast-growing aviation market. In 2019, it was the EU's 9th largest market for freight and the 16th largest for passengers with more than 8 million travellers. 

The European Commission noted that introducing a modern framework for air services between Europe and Asia, which opens up opportunities while ensuring high standards is therefore an investment in the future.

In 2016, the Commission obtained authorisation from the Council to negotiate an EU-level aviation agreement with ASEAN. Negotiations were finalised in June 2021.

Similar EU comprehensive air transport agreements have been signed with other partner countries, namely the United States, Canada, Qatar, the Western Balkans, Morocco, Georgia, Jordan, Moldova, Israel, Ukraine and Armenia.

The agreement starts to apply from October 17, the day of the signing of the agreement.

Both parties will now launch the ratification process in line with their respective procedures to bring the agreement into force.