The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Mr Anthony Albanese has announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understandering (MOU) between Australia and Thailand to increase the number of air services between the two countries.

The new MOU will allow each nation to operate up to 20,000 weekly seats to and from Australia's four major gateway airports, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth direct to Thai destinations.

Australia’s regional airports, including Cairns, Darwin and Broome also stand to benefit with the inclusion of a Regional Package which will provide Thai airlines with open access to all other international airports in Australia.

International passenger numbers to and from Australia to all destinations reached a record 28.9 million in 2011–12.  The number of people travelling between Australia and Thailand has doubled in the last six years.

Key areas of the new MOU provide for:

  • An effective capacity increase up to 20,000 seats a week for airlines of both sides;
  • Unrestricted code share arrangements, allowing greater flexibility for airlines of both sides to code share with their alliance partners; and
  • A modernised regulatory framework covering up to date provisions for safety and security, tariff approval and the application of competition law.

The new MOU will enter into effect once Thailand has completed its domestic approval process.

http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2012/November/aa238_2012.aspx for a full copy of the media release.