Vietnam and Finland sign aviation accord

HANOI  Vietnam and Finland have signed a transport agreement to make it possible for airlines to serve routes linking the two countries.
Local media reported that the Minister of Transport, Dinh La Thang and Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, Jan Vapaavuori, signed a bilateral agreement on air transport between the two countries in Hanoi last Monday.
The agreement comprises of 26 articles and an appendix on a number of regulations, including transport rights, appointed airlines and aircrafts, fees, equal competition rules and air security safety.
inside no 4Once the agreement is implemented, it will open the way for national airlines to fly between the two countries. However, there are no immediate plans for Finnair to serve Vietnam with scheduled flights. It already offers charter flights during the peak holiday months, for winter travel out of Finland.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam head, Lai Xuan Thanh, was quoted as saying that Vietnam also asked Finland to support the establishment of a pilot training centre with technology and finance.
Vietnam and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1973.
For January to September this year, 10,598 tourists from Finland travelled to Vietnam down 0.38% during the same period last year.

sourced:ttrweekly.com