Asian governments to open skies in 2007: CAPA

Sydney, Mar 15 (UNI) The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has predicted that aviation liberalisation will regain momentum in 2007.

''The only thing preventing economic expansion for millions of people in Asia, especially in regional centres, is the constricting grip of government aviation policy,'' said its executive chairman Peter Harbison.

Past logjams have been caused by government inertia but led by India and China, the liberalisation of aviation access in Asia in 2007 is set to regain some of the momentum lost in 2005-06, he said in a new outlook report.

The report highlights pivotal role of the Singapore-Malaysia bilateral agreement in potentially leading a wave of aviation liberalisation in Asia this year.

This agreement could be a touchstone for change. It is paradoxically for two of the otherwise most liberal regimes in the region, almost archaically restrictive in its current form.

More UNI