Legend: Map of bilateral air transport agreements between members of the World Trade Organization. Courtesy of the Air Services Agreement Projector, World Trade Organization, 2007 An air transport agreement (sometimes referred to as an air transport agreement or ATA or ASA) is a bilateral agreement that allows international commercial air services between signatories. Commercial air transport may be carried out only if it is approved by the States concerned by the operations. In particular, in order to provide a stable basis for scheduled international air traffic under international law, States have concluded air services/air transport agreements. Normally, these agreements are concluded between two Contracting States – bilateral agreements. The result is that international air transport is regulated by a complex network of more than 3000 interlocking bilateral air transport agreements. In recent years, groups of countries have come together to negotiate air transport agreements. There is talk of plurilateral agreements, but most international air services are still traded bilaterally. DISCLAIMER The attached documents are internal departmental working documents, which have been created for internal use.

This document may be used only as an indication of the rights granted and implemented under Australia`s bilateral air services agreements and arrangements. The rights and capabilities negotiated under Australia`s bilateral air transport agreement and arrangements are under constant review, and airlines frequently change their operations. Due to the summary nature of the details of this document, the Commonwealth assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided. The fees provided, the summary of the schedule and the capacity information should not be expected to be authoritative or can be invoked, and people should rely on their own demands. The Chicago Convention laid down the operating rules for international air transport. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations organization responsible for the planning and development of international air traffic, was founded. In 1944, in the final stages of World War II, 54 countries met in Chicago, USA, to discuss the future of international aviation. The conference led to the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention. Airlines operating international air services do so within the framework of the capacity requirements contained in air transport agreements. The Available Capacity Register defines the capacity available to Australian airlines.

The capacity available for foreign airlines and its use during the last scheduling season are listed in the table Growth potential for foreign airlines PDF: 147 KB. . . .