Air and Maritime Transportation
The 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of CARICOM, to be held from July 3-5 in Grenada, is expected to address issues on the regional transportation agenda, including the operationalisation of the Revised CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA). They will also discuss solutions to support the movement of agricultural produce throughout the Region, in keeping with the Vision 25 by 2025 Initiative.
The CARICOM MASA envisions a single market for air transport services within the Community. Paragraphs 1 of Article 33 and 1 of Article 37 of the Revised Treaty reference the removal of limitations to Community nationals’ right to establish themselves and provide services within the community.
The CARICOM MASA envisions a single market for air transport services within the Community. Paragraphs 1 of Article 33 and 1 of Article 37 of the Revised Treaty reference the removal of limitations to Community nationals’ right to establish themselves and provide services within the community.
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley signing the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) at the 18th Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Govt of CARICOM on the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME), December 2018
The Galleon’s Passage
The MASA seeks to:
(i) Develop universal standards and recommended practices for air transport services in the Community.
(ii) Ensure uniformity in aviation personnel licensing and certification within the Community.
(iii) Ensure that international air transport services are provided by financially viable and technically certified air carriers.
(i) Develop universal standards and recommended practices for air transport services in the Community.
(ii) Ensure uniformity in aviation personnel licensing and certification within the Community.
(iii) Ensure that international air transport services are provided by financially viable and technically certified air carriers.
Some of the opportunities that the CARICOM’s Multilateral Air Services Agreement provides are:
(i) Improved Connectivity through increased services on low-density routes to enhance access, flexibility, and flight scheduling.
(ii) Improved efficiency and expansion of regional airlines
(iii) Greater cargo options for exporters and importers will have greater cargo options.
(iv) The creation of niche markets for the aviation sector in areas such as aircraft refurbishment, cleaning, and maintenance.
(v) Enhancement and upgrading of transport infrastructure.
(i) Improved Connectivity through increased services on low-density routes to enhance access, flexibility, and flight scheduling.
(ii) Improved efficiency and expansion of regional airlines
(iii) Greater cargo options for exporters and importers will have greater cargo options.
(iv) The creation of niche markets for the aviation sector in areas such as aircraft refurbishment, cleaning, and maintenance.
(v) Enhancement and upgrading of transport infrastructure.
Caribbean Airlines
CARICOM MASA was entered into force on 17 August 2020 and is ratified by 12 Member States. The Grant of Rights encompassed in the Agreement enables it to be the most liberal multilateral air services agreement, as it includes cabotage provisions.
Also embedded in the Agreement, making it unique, is the Community of Interest Principle (COIP). The COIP was piloted by CARICOM Member States at the Twenty-fourth Special Inter-ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada in 1983. It is intended to enable the designation of domestic carriers as regional airlines and to address the special challenges that are faced by small States in the field of international air transport and tourism.
Also embedded in the Agreement, making it unique, is the Community of Interest Principle (COIP). The COIP was piloted by CARICOM Member States at the Twenty-fourth Special Inter-ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada in 1983. It is intended to enable the designation of domestic carriers as regional airlines and to address the special challenges that are faced by small States in the field of international air transport and tourism.
