Latvia joins the European Common Aviation Area gaining unlimited access to EU markets

Published: 10/7/1999

The European Commission (EC) and the Latvian government have signed a bilateral protocol on membership of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA), as part of the liberalization process, which was started in 1997 (www.concise.org 28th July 1999). Under the terms of the agreement, Latvian operators will gain unlimited access to the European market, subject to a safety audit by the EU of flights operated by local airlines. While the agreement extends, in principle, to charter operators, the fact that they mainly operate Tu-154s and Tu-134s, which do not meet European noise and emission limits, will be a significant inhibitor to Latvian airlines within the EU from 2002. Air Baltic is reported to be gearing up to enter the European market, with a $43.4m stock issue to fund the purchase of new aircraft and the launch of new routes.

Article ID: 954