Air Transport Agreement between Iceland and Vietnam signed

Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade Katrín Juliusdottir and Hoang Tsung Hai, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, signed an Air Transport Agreement between Iceland and Vietnam today. It is the first agreement in this field to be made between the two countries.

Under the Agreement, airlines from the two states will be granted the right to fly scheduled passenger services to destinations in either state and intermediate destinations and points along the route of flight, as well as extensive rights to provide air cargo services.The Agreement also provides opportunities for Icelandic airlines to offer charter flights between Iceland and Vietnam. The Agreement with Vietnam will enhance opportunities for Icelandic airlines that have pursued or wish to pursue activities in that region.

Last year, air transport agreements with the following states were initialled and envisioned for signature at the earliest opportunity: Armenia, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Jamaica, and Colombia. The agreements will give greater scope to Icelandic airlines that wish to pursue activities in those regions. Moreover, an Agreement was signed in June this year on Iceland's accession to the second stage of the Air Transport Agreement between the US and EU; Iceland joined the first stage of the agreement in December 2009. The Agreement will grant Icelandic airlines increased rights to fly between Europe and the United States.