The Government of Jamaica signed three (3) Air Services Agreements (ASA) with the Czech Republic, Turkey and New Zealand on November 19, 2014 in Bali, Indonesia during the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Navigation Conference (ICAN). These agreements are the starting point for the development of scheduled and in some cases non-scheduled air services between Jamaica and these States.

The ICAN2014 was held from November 17 – 21, 2014 and provided States with a central meeting place to conduct multiple bilateral (regional or plurilateral) air services negotiations or consultations and offered participants excellent networking opportunities as well as a forum to exchange experiences and discuss topical issues.

In addition, Jamaica was able to conclude discussions with the States of India, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Austria, Kenya, and Ethiopia for the development of air services agreements. These agreements will be placed before the Cabinet for approval and signing at a later date. Jamaica was also able to sign an MOU with Qatar which will now make it possible for Jamaica to sign the previously initialled ASA between the States.

Jamaica held a total of fourteen (14) meetings with States which also included Hungary, Poland, the Russian Federation and Ecuador. Discussions will continue with these States in an effort to finalise agreements with them in short order.

The delegation was led by His Excellency Ricardo Allicock, Jamaica’s Ambassador to Japan and included representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.