Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone Sign Pact To Boost Air Travel Connectivity

Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone on Monday signed an air services agreement (ASA), marking a significant step in enhancing air connectivity between the two nations. The agreement, reported by the Saudi Press Agency, aims to facilitate the entry of national carriers into each other’s commercial air markets, fostering a regulatory environment conducive to safe and efficient bilateral air transport services. The ASA, which aligns with the principles of the 1944 Chicago Convention and other multilateral treaties on international air services, covers a range of topics. These include transport rights, airline designation and licensing standards, air safety, aviation security, fair competition rules, and the promotion of national carriers’ economic interests.

The deal was formalized by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation Fanday Turay. The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Conference on Air Services Negotiations of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This agreement signifies a collaborative effort to strengthen the aviation sector and bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone.