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Last Updated: Jan 27, 2020 - 2:00:24 PM |
 A warm Good Morning,
Protocol having been established I would, nonetheless, like to extend a very warm welcome to the US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Ms. Manisha Singh and her team and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation, Mr. David Short, and his team.
Today marks another milestone achievement for Aviation in the Bahamas. The signing of this Air Transport Agreement between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United States of America will mean that the Bahamas has now successfully concluded twenty-three (23) Air Service Agreements. In addition, The Bahamas has successfully negotiated, but not yet concluded, another twenty eight (28) Air Service Agreements upon which we are waiting patiently for the other side to secure their necessary regulatory approvals so that we can finalize.
These agreements pave the way for future economic growth and increased airlift between the respective countries.
Additionally, these air service agreements provide financial incentives and internationally agreed rules and regulations, which govern how a foreign carrier from a specific country can provide service to The Bahamas, either directly or via a code share arrangement. As a result, when a foreign carrier expresses an interest in commencing air service to The Bahamas, the regulatory regime is already in place and service can commence expeditiously, without undue bureaucratic delays.
It also provides the same opportunity to our Bahamian designated airlines to operate under this agreement into the United States and any other country with which these Agreements have been executed.
The implementation of this agreement would also make travel easier for Bahamians and Americans who are visiting, in greater numbers, to destinations in The Bahamas and United States. Why? Because airlines in the respective countries that were intimidated and overwhelmed by a perceived bureaucratic process to establish air service between the United States and Bahamas can now be assured that, with the signing of this agreement, the process is clearer and far more manageable and far more transparent…….than it once was!
Airlines that will be designated by both the United States and The Bahamas are all able to benefit from this Agreement. These negotiations took almost four (4) years from commencement to today but it was a priority of this government that the Agreement be concluded as quickly as possible given the close economic ties between our respective countries and so, I am delighted that we are finalizing this process with the signing of this agreement this morning.
The Bahamas has demonstrated to the world its resilience following the passing of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. Despite the major devastation wrought on our two most Northern Islands, The Bahamas has set unprecedented records in Tourism Arrivals, much of which can be attributed to a growing Aviation Sector. To recap, in 2019, the Bahamas experienced:
The highest ever…..number of stop over visitors at 1.78 million.
The highest ever….number of stop over visitors from the United States at 1.45 million.
The highest ever…..number of foreign visitors to visit The Bahamas in a calendar year….at a whopping 7.2 Million total visitors.
The excitement of these records has shown that The Bahamas is indeed “Open for Business” and, as a new Ad campaign states, we are “Still Rockin.”
Today as we sign this Air Transport Agreement, I am confident that this bilateral agreement will solidify the excellent relations between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United States of America and demonstrate to the world our close cooperation as Nations and States dedicated to the development of Aviation globally.
Congratulations to both The Bahamas and United States Negotiating teams for a job well done and Good Morning.
© Copyright 2020 by thebahamasweekly.com
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