Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, July 11 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has approved
a civil aviation development programme for 2012-2030, an official Turkmen source said today.
The document was adopted in accordance with the Turkmen socio-economic development programme for 2011-2030 to ensure the successful implementation of responsibilities to develop the transport sector of the country, including the national civil aviation area, the systematic supply of civil aviation with the new modern equipment, as well as improve the servicing of passengers and air transportation security.
A fundamentally new concept of national aviation is in the basis of the recently approved Turkmen Air Code. Its essence is to consolidate market relations in the aviation, to form a civilised market of air transportation, the document said.
The Code regulates the air transportation market, openness and accessibility of the market. The document clearly reflects the rights and legitimate state interests in this area, determines its place and a role as an active regulator of relations in the sphere of internal and international air transportation, certification and licensing of the activity in the field of aviation, the classification of airports, regulation of airline activity and other moments.
Aircraft, airports, hardware and other assets can be in the public, private and other forms of ownership in Turkmenistan.
The Code regulates the issues of cooperation between Turkmenistan and international airlines. Airlines operating in Turkmenistan can work on mixed and joint transportation upon permission from the authorised body in the field of civil aviation if it is not contrary to the laws and interests of the state.
Moreover, Turkmen aircraft can be leased, with or without crew to a foreign operator in the case of an agreement between the owner of the aircraft and the future operator, by providing him with the corresponding rights and obligations.
Foreign aircraft can be rented by Turkmenistan's operator.
The Code includes the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Standards and Recommended Practice on Facilitation, adopted by the ICAO Council as set out in No.9 Annex to the Convention.
At present, the aircraft of the national airline make regular flights to 15 cities in 11 world countries: Abu Dhabi, Amritsar, Almaty, Bangkok, Birmingham, New Delhi,Dubai, Kiev, London, Moscow, Minsk, Beijing, Istanbul, St. Petersburg,
Frankfurt besides domestic flights.
Besides the international airport in Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi international airport commissioned in spring 2010 is planned to be a major transit
point on the airways from Europe to South and South-East Asia.