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Media release
Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile
7 September 2001 / MVT125/2001
Air Services Agreement with Chile to Boost Trade
Trade Minister Mark Vaile last night signed in Santiago a bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Chile that lays the groundwork for an expansion of airline routes between Australia and South America, with Santiago de Chile as a first destination and entry point.
The ASA will facilitate air services between the two regions and provide for both passenger and freight services.
"Regular air services are important for the development of trade and tourism, and will provide further stimulus for the growing commercial links between Australia and Chile," Mr Vaile said.
"Australian and Chilean carriers have made commercial judgements not to operate direct services at present, but this agreement provides the opportunity for carriers of either country to operate services when they judge it to be commercially viable.
"The challenge now for businesses, exporters and tourism operators on both sides of the Pacific is to promote and develop trade and tourism links to the point where airlines have a commercial incentive to recommence air services on the route which ceased in July 2000," Mr Vaile said.
Contact: James Baker (Ministerial) 0011 56 9 605 6843, Lyndall Sachs (Departmental) 02 6261 155
Local Date: Friday, 05-Dec-2008 13:56:35 EST