Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012

Advanced Economic Cooperationin Sectors and Industries10Developing Air TransportPotential of the EurAsECCountriesAigulAbsametovaAigul Absametova – Candidate of Economic Sciences, MS inManagement, University of Edinburgh, UK. Senior Analyst atthe EDB Strategy and Research Department, Economic AnalysisUnit. Work experience includes consulting, banking, internationaldevelopment institutions and educational sectors and businesses.E-mail: absametova_am@eabr.orgThe purpose of this article is to describe the current state of EurAsEC’s civilaviation and analyse its prospects, paying special attention to airfreighttransportation. We will discuss opportunities for further cooperation in civilaviation within EurAsEC, taking into account the establishment of the CommonTransport Space, the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space. Wewill also examine air traffic between Asia and Europe and possible ways ofmaximising the potential of Eurasian transit links. The article is based on theEDB sector report No.13, Developing EurAsEC’s Air Transport Potential.IntroductionCivil aviation is a vital component of the transport systems of EurAsEC memberstates, contributing to their sustainable economic growth, foreign trade, tourism,and population mobility.EurAsEC’s undisputed achievement in the area of civil aviation is the use ofharmonised standards, aviation rules and procedures (in particular with respectto airworthiness, operational suitability of airports, airport equipment, airroutes and air accident investigations) as a result of their common adherenceto the Agreement on Civil Aviation and Use of Airspace, signed by all EurAsECmember states in 1991. However, integration processes in EurAsEC have notyet had an effect on many aspects of civil aviation, including the developmentof freight traffic and exploitation of transit potential.Globally, integration in air transport and the establishment of commonmarkets in air transport services are important processes. This practice also164 EDB Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012