The Tribune

The Bahamas has moved to boost aviation links with the UK through the signing of an Air Service Agreement (ASA) between the two countries.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, executed the agreement on The Bahamas’ behalf on March 5 during a signing ceremony at the Great Minister House in London. Baroness Sugg, the UK’s parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, officially signed for the UK.

The agreement with the UK takes the number of ASAs that The Bahamas has signed with other International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) states to 20.

Mr D’Aguilar said the agreement with the UK is designed to drive future economic growth and stimulus through the aviation sector. Air service agreements provide financial incentives, and internationally-agreed rules and regulations, which govern how foreign airlines from a specific country can provide service to The Bahamas - either directly or via a code share arrangement.

As a result, when a foreign carrier expresses an interest in launching air services to The Bahamas, the regulatory regime is already in place and service can commence quickly without encountering undue bureaucratic delays.

This will also make travel easier for Bahamians who are visiting, in greater numbers, destinations throughout the world, and for the growing number of persons across the globe who wish to come to The Bahamas.

Other members of the Bahamian delegation included Ellison Greenslade, The Bahamas’ high commissioner to the UK, and Juliea Brathwaite-Rolle, manager of safety oversight for the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority.