The UAE signed an ‘open skies’ air services deal with Senegal yesterday in a move to give Gulf tourism a further boost.
The deal means that designated airlines will have unlimited capacities, frequencies and routes between the two countries, as the UAE aims to increase travel with African countries.
It means that all UAE and Senegal airlines can operate routes between any airport in the two countries.
Both parties agreed to designate all UAE airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia, RAK Airways) as designated airlines of UAE, and Air Senegal as the designated airline of the Republic of Senegal.
It is part of a number of similar agreements that will be signed by the UAE and several other African governments.
Mohammed Ghanem Al Ghaith, director general of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “The growth and fast expansion of our national carriers necessitate that we open new routes that meet the current and future requirements of our market. That will encourage the tourism sector and investments between the UAE and African countries.”
The move comes as the Gulf region was named a ‘newly emergent hub’ for international travel yesterday in a new Airbus report.
The study showed that air travel in the Middle East will grow around 7% each year, as trend setting airlines take advantage of the region’s location to attract international travellers on their way from Asia to Europe and Africa.
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