According to a report by the French newspaper, La Tribune, the agreement will open the doors of the European skies wide to Qatar Airways, which can add the lines it deems appropriate from Doha, and Qatar Airways Cargo will also be able to carry out freight flights between Europe and the United States.
The report indicated that the file, which was more than five years old, is nearing completion, adding that the European Union and its member states are preparing to ratify the Open Skies Agreement with Qatar. In other words, the Air Services Liberalization Agreement allows member airlines in this space in particular, the ability to To serve any city without any restrictions in terms of capacity or number of flights.
The report said that this agreement has been awaiting final signature since March 2019, due to a dispute between the British and the Spaniards over Gibraltar, but the recent exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union made it possible to solve this problem and allow Brussels to re-launch this file last spring.
"Starting with the European Commission, it must be ratified at the end of September by the permanent representatives of the member states and then by the Council of the European Union. So the Commission can sign it on behalf of the European Union in the autumn."
He added: "Qatar should do the same in the aftermath. The text will then be implemented immediately on a temporary basis, without waiting for ratification by special parliaments and the European Parliament."
As of this fall, Qatar Airways will obtain the third and fourth freedom of flight rights without restrictions in terms of routes, capacity and frequencies, between any point in Qatar and the European Union, a first for the Gulf carrier.
Hence, the Qatari company will be able to operate at full capacity to Europe once long-distance traffic starts moving again.
The agreement provides for a five-year transition period for traffic in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands, unlike other European countries that have not yet liberalized traffic through bilateral agreements with Qatar.
The newspaper pointed out that with regard to shipping activity, the agreement goes further by granting the fifth freedom right, that is, the possibility of the Qatari company making flights between the European Union and other countries.
And she continued: “Initially, this will only concern the United States, with which Qatar and Europe have concluded open skies agreements, but in theory, this fifth freedom can extend to any country in North or South America, and in turn, European airlines will be able to serve Most of Asia and Oceania are from Qatar.
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