Coming as it did even before the general elections in Pakistan, the MoU allows two new points of call in Chennai and Islamabad and increased frequency of air services — from 12 to 28 per week for each side. It was also agreed that each country would henceforth be entitled to designate three airlines each to operate the agreed services on the specified routes. Presently only one airline each operates between India and Pakistan.

Both delegations recognised that in the wake of developments which have taken place in the aviation industry during the past few years, the existing air services agreement needs to be reviewed and updated.

State-owned Indian Airlines (now Air India) and Pakistan International Airlines are the carriers on the two sides which currently operate between the two countries. As per indications, since three airlines have been given permission to operate services would mean that private airlines too may join the operations.

The MoU would also mean that the capitals of the two nations would be air connected directly. Currently, only Delhi and Mumbai and Lahore and Karachi are on the air map of the two countries for direct links.

The MoU was signed at the end of the two-day consultations held at Islamabad between the two sides, headed by Kanu Gohain, DG of Directorate general of civil aviation in India and by Major General Mir Haider Ali Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Pakistan.

Review meet

Both delegations also agreed to meet within one year to review the capacity/frequency framework and additional destinations in each others territory, keeping in view the market demand.

Both sides expressed satisfaction that the new arrangement would further the objective of facilitating people to people contact, business and trade activities between the two countries, an official release said.

Sources, however, caution that MoU would not mean launching of the new services as an agreement between the two sides still needs to be signed before the new facilities take off.

The two sides had come close towards an agreement in this regard two years ago — in March, 2006 —but failed to take it to the logical end.