Thailand-U.S. air accord

Thailand-U.S. air accord

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand and the United States have agreed on a new three-year air traffic accord that will allow each to operate 31 passenger and 24 cargo flights to the other country per week, a news report said Saturday.

The accord was reached Friday in Hua Hin, a resort town 230 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Bangkok, after four days of official negotiations, Thai Aviation Department director Srisook Chandrangsu told The Nation daily.

The agreement, which ends a five-year air traffic dispute, must be approved by the two governments and is expected to be signed in a few months, Srisook said.

The key to the accord was agreement on so-called "fifth freedom flights" that allow airlines to pick up passengers en route to their final destinations, Srisook said. They agreed that each side may operate up to 14 such flights a week to the other country.