- commenced air services agreement negotiations in 2019, and the First ASEAN-New Zealand Working Group Meeting on Regional Air Services Agreement (ANZWG-RASA) was held on 18-19 September 2019, in Wellington, New Zealand. Four (4) years after the 1st round, at the 4th ANZWG-RASA Meeting held on 13 September 2023 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, both sides successfully concluded the negotiations on the ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement (ANZ-ASA).
- Under the agreement, the airlines designated by ASEAN Member States and New Zealand will have greater opportunities to operate passenger and/or cargo services between and beyond ASEAN and New Zealand. The airlines will be able to operate such services with unlimited 3rd and 4th freedom traffic rights, as specified in Protocol 1 of the ANZ-ASA, which will result to the increase in direct connection as well as expansion of air transport services between respective ASEAN Member States and New Zealand.
- In addition, the airlines designated by ASEAN Member States and New Zealand will be able to fly up to seven (7) weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements between each individual ASEAN Member State and New Zealand for a period of one (1) year from the date of entry into force of the agreement, and up to fourteen (14) weekly services with 5th freedom traffic rights in addition to existing bilateral entitlements after one (1) year from the date of entry into force of the agreement, as specified in Protocol 1 of the ANZ-ASA.
- Mr. Mao Havannall, the Minister in Charge of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia said: “I applaud this significant achievement. The ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement is a forward-looking agreement that will enhance air connectivity between ASEAN and New Zealand, and facilitate greater ease of movement of people and goods, and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development. Cambodia is honoured to serve as a lead country coordinator for ASEAN in negotiations with New Zealand from the beginning till the conclusion of the agreement, and would like to thank our fellow ASEAN Member States and New Zealand for their unwavering commitment and strong cooperation for making it happen.”
- The ANZ-ASA will now be submitted for legal scrubbing in preparation for signature at a later date to be confirmed.
