Azerbaijan is not ready to enter into the Common European airspace

Azerbaijan is not ready to continue the harmonization agreement with the EU Common Aviation Area (ECAA Agreement) and to sign this document.

The reason for this position is the potential negative consequences for the national carrier in the local market in competition with European airlines. This is stated in the annual report of the Civil Aviation Administration of Azerbaijan (CAAA) for 2013.

This issue was the subject of discussion of the first round of talks in Baku (24-25 January 2013) and the 38th session of the Assembly of ICAO (September 24 - October 4) in Montreal (Canada) with the EU delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Azerbaijani side explained its position with unavailability of domestic airlines to operate in accordance with the requirements of this agreement. "The Azerbaijani government invests heavily in the development of the aviation infrastructure and therefore, at this stage signing the agreement could deliver local airlines at a disadvantage." The state-run CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines also opposes joining the agreement.

Note that the project Single European Sky, which creates a single EU airspace with countries not members of the united Europe, was launched in 2004. According to the idea of its initiators, it will benefit all users of airspace due to a more secure and efficient use of airspace and air traffic control inside and outside the EU. Air traffic control will stop obey the national offices within national borders, but instead will establish "functional airspace blocks", the boundaries of which will meet requirements of efficient use of airspace.

In CAAA they told Turan that currently 27 foreign airlines are permitted to use the airspace of Azerbaijan, including the commission of scheduled flights. Accession to the ECAA Agreement implies the elimination of licensing procedures.

AZAL today operates regular flights to Europe on 8 routes. The airline might fear reduction of the passenger flow in connection with the entry of new European carriers.

Georgia and Ukraine have signed this agreement. - 08B-