UAE signs air services deal with Brazil

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Federal Republic of Brazil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for increasing flights between the UAE and Brazil to 49, the GCAA said yesterday.

According to the MoU, both parties agreed to a phased increase of 28 weekly flights – passenger or combination flights, and 21 weekly all cargo flights to be operated with any type of aircraft.

The two countries have also agreed to start working for the liberalisation of their bilateral air transport framework in near future, with an aim to create additional opportunities for their designating airlines, GCAA said.

"The two delegations met in Rio de Janeiro to discuss matters relating to air services between UAE and Brazil and for further expanding the opportunities available under the Air Services Agreement initiated on June 9, 2004," the civil aviation body said in a statement.

It added: "The two delegations have agreed to designate, in addition to Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and RAK Airways as national carriers from the UAE."

Brazil, which is one of the world's top tourist destinations, hopes to attract more tourists and businessmen.