Indonesia and Belanda to Match up Aviation Rules

WAHYUDIN FAHMI, Tuesday, 25 August, 2009 | 13:33 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian transportation department has signed a bilateral agreement with the Netherlands following the flight ban lifted by the European Union.

Earlier, Indonesia signed a horizontal agreement as a legal foundation for a bilateral cooperation with European Union countries.

The Government has chosen the Netherlands to be first country in the European Union that will work bilaterally with Indonesia.

The cooperation is related to the plan of PT Garuda Indonesia to open flight routes to the Netherlands next year.

“The bilateral agreement with the Netherlands was signed on August 19 in The Hague,” said Director General for Air Transportation, Herry Bakti S. Gumay by phone, yesterday (24/8).

At the signing, Herry represented Indonesia while the Netherlands was represented by special advisor/negotiator chairman, Hans de Jong.

Herry explained that the agreement was an updated version of an older agreement made in 1994. “So the old agreement becomes in line with the horizontal agreement,” he said.

In the bilateral agreement, Indonesia and the Netherlands have agreed to match up articles regarding flight safety and security with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Both parties will also arrange the flight routes and code-shares. “Garuda Indonesia plans to work together with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines regarding the code-shares,” said Herry.