ASEAN-EU Air Transport Agreement And Its Implications to the Economic Cooperation Between Indonesia-Benelux Countries. A Multilateralism Perspective

Abstract

ASEAN and EU share similarities in terms of integration and liberalisation of the aviation sectors and the development of single aviation market. Both parties also agreed to strengthen cooperation on civil aviation through the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA). The agreement aims at promoting air travel and bringing two regions closer together and the first ‘bloc-to-bloc’ agreement between two regional economic blocs. This paper discusseshow multilateralism in the EU is applied in their aviation foreign policy through the CATA. This paper also analyse how on-going CATA negotiation affect economic cooperation between Indonesia and Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux Countries), with reference to their scheduled airlines. Qualitative research methodology and secondary data are used. The results show that through this agreement both regional airlines are able to fly over the territories, better connect to expand and diversify their markets. This agreement will create a significant impact on airlines competitiveness by offering unlimited traffic rights and market access for both parties’, along with numerous other potential advantages.