Senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on October 10 that they are willing to work towards realising their aspiration to build a comprehensive partnership on the ASEAN Single Aviation Market, which is considered a pillar of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). 





During the 34th ASEAN Air Transport Working Group Meeting (ATWG) and related meetings held in Vientiane, Laos from October 10-14, officials reaffirmed their commitment to bringing their vision and dreams one step closer to reality. 

Delegates focused on key decisions achieved during the 33rd ATWG held in Laos in March, particularly in completing key economic and technical elements of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market for open sky agreements among 10 ASEAN member states and partners. 

Officials also followed up the relevant developments and action plans adopted by the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits as well as the 41 st ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM), and the implementation of the ASEAN air transport-related measures under the AEC Blueprint 2015, particularly the high priority measures to be carried out in 2016. 

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market, also known as ASEAN Open Sky Agreement/Policy, is the region's major aviation policy. It is projected to begin on January 1, 2016, but no agreements have been signed so far. 

The market is expected to fully liberalise regional air travel between ASEAN member states, allowing ASEAN member states and airlines to directly benefit from the growth in air travel around the world, and also free up tourism, trade, investment and service flows between member states.

VNA