The United Arab Emirates represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has initialed an air services agreement (ASA) and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia on Thursday. The agreement was signed by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ludmil Manassiev, director general of Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration, Ministry of Transport in Bulgaria. Representatives from Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and RAK Airways attended the negotiations. The UAE delegation confirmed designation of Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways and additionally designated RAK Airways, Air Arabia and FlyDubai as UAE national airlines under the agreement, while the Bulgarian delegation confirmed the designation of Bulgaria Air as the designated airline of Bulgaria under the agreement. The deal allows unrestricted capacity and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the designated airlines of each country in any type of service (passenger or cargo) on the routes between Bulgaria and the UAE. It includes, in addition to the third and fourth freedoms, the practice of full fifth freedom traffic rights on all points of their choice without any restriction while operating cargo services.
