India, Iran sign MoU on air services

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): India and Iran on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on new air services between the two nations on the sidelines of the 16th India - Iran Joint Commission Meeting held here today.

The salient features of the MOU include facilitation of code share and cooperative marketing arrangement and an enhancement in the capacity entitlement for the designated airlines of each side from 23 services/week presently to 31 services/week.

Two additional points of call in the respective countries, to be mutually decided upon later, has been agreed.

The new Air Services Agreement (ASA) will be based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) template.

The revised ASA will supersede the ASA initialed between the two countries on April 30, 1980. It has the potential to spur greater trade investment, tourism and strengthening the cultural exchange between the two countries besides bringing it in tune with the developments in the international civil aviation scenario.

The 16th Session of the Joint Commission between India and Iran was held in New Delhi on July 8-9, 2010.

India and Iran have been holding discussions at regular intervals on issues relating to economic cooperation under the aegis of the Joint Commission mechanism, which was established in July 1983.

The last session of the Joint Commission was held in Tehran, Iran from October 30-November 2, 2008. (ANI)