Call to separate cargo and passenger airline rights

The International Air Cargo Association is calling on countries that support the severance of cargo from passenger rights to reach agreement on a separate cargo annex that could become the first step towards market liberalisation and openness. The Association believes bilateral negotiations should be unrestricted, enabling air carriers to move air cargo in any international market between two points anywhere in the world. Larry Coyne, a member of Tiaca’s industry affairs committee and chief executive officer of Coyne Airways, says Tiaca sees air cargo and express transportation as economic development tools. “We believe that a separate cargo annex should be pursued as the first step towards market liberalisation and openness. Often developing countries see the advantages of market openness for the movement of goods before they recognise the same advantages on the passenger side.” Under this approach, a new generic agreement for cargo flights would grant the same rights and privileges, on a reciprocal basis, to all signatories. Tiaca realises that cabotage may still not be open for discussion in some countries and would therefore accept, as a matter of pragmatic progress, to exclude it where it may present a negotiation obstacle at this stage. Coyne added: “The benefits of liberalised agreements would be open to all carriers, irrespective of national ownership. We would like to see a mutually acceptable supervisory body made responsible for the transparent and equitable operation of all resulting agreements.” Support is confidently expected from countries that already operate ‘open skies’ as well as those that have no existing national air carrier to protect.