Asean looking to sign air services agreement with India

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is keen on inking an air services agreement with India by end of 2012, an official from the 10-nation grouping said today.

"We are looking to sign the air services agreement with India by end of next year," Pushpanathan Sundram, Deputy Secretary General of Asean, said at the 7th International Conference on South Asia here.

The agreement would cover point-to-point air travel between Indian cities and the Asean member-countries.

Talks have been initiated in this regard, he told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.

He pointed out at the large volume of traffic between India and its South-Eastern neighbours, especially the traffic to Buddhist pilgrim centres in India.

The region's transport ministers are scheduled to meet in the second half of next year.

India has already established strong air transport links with Singapore and Malaysia, Asean's most vibrant economies.

Some of Asia's biggest airlines are based in Asean region and they look to attract the tourist traffic from India.