India, Iran sign MoU to allow more flights

India and Iran today decided to enhance the number of flights between the two nations from 23 to 31 every week and agreed to allow each other's airlines to operate to two additional destinations.

An MoU was signed by the civil aviation delegations of the two nations on the sidelines of the 16th India?"Iran Joint Commission Meeting here, an official spokesperson said.

The agreement also made provisions for facilitation of code share and cooperative marketing arrangement between the airlines of the two countries, the spokesperson said.

The capacity entitlement for the designated airlines of each side from the current level of 23 services each week to 31.

Two additional points of call in the respective countries have also been allowed, but the cities where the designated carriers would be able to operate would be mutually decided upon later, the spokesperson said.

Earlier, Iran Air and Mahan Air were operating a few flights to India but no Indian carrier has been flying to Iran for several years now, aviation sources said.

Based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) template, the revised Air Services Agreement would supersede the one initialed between the two nations way back in April, 1980.

The agreement, the spokesperson said, had the potential to spur greater trade investment and tourism while strengthening cultural exchanges between the two countries.