Misapplication of the Yamoussoukro Decision in A/S

English Boards General
1

I cannot help but notice a trend in A/S that has become more common place - the misapplication or the wrong Implementation of Yamoussoukro Decision by A/S. I hope it will be looked into and corrected very soon.

Yamoussoukro Decision is the bilateral Air traffic agreement reached and signed by 44 African nations and its details are as follows;

The objectives of the Decision are: 
 
• Full-liberalization of the intra-African air transport services by means of eliminating 
restrictions on access, frequency, capacity and tariffs; 
• Free exercise of first, second, third, fourth and fifth freedom rights for passenger and 
freight air services by eligible airlines; 
• Ensure fair competition on a non-discriminatory basis; 
• Compliance with international safety standards; 
 
Please note that the agreement covers the  "Free exercise of first, second, third, fourth and fifth freedom rights for passenger and freight air services by eligible airlines" (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Freedom Rights)

However, what I see happening and the way it is implemented in A/S is to give a free exercise of the 8th and 9th freedom rights which are not included and covered by the Yamoussoukro Decision! For reference, the 8th and 9th freedom rights are referred to below;

 
8th Right - the right to fly between two or more airports in a foreign country while continuing service to one's own country (example; Chicago - New York - Toronto, as a Canadian company)
9th Right - the right to fly inside a foreign country without continuing service to one's own country (example; Beijing - Shanghai, as an Italian company)
 

The 8th right essentially is what is called 'Cabotage' and it is not referred to or allowed under the Yamoussoukro Decision. A Kenyan or Ethiopian airline should not have the right to operate a 'local' or 'domestic' flight within South Africa or Nigeria under the clauses of Yamoussoukro Decision. Even if such an Airline were to be continuing to service to its own country, it should not be able to engage in any 'Cabotage' within the host country. The Yamoussoukro Decision does NOT make any provision for either the 8th or 9th Freedom Right. A/S officials should please implement this correctly.

2

As far as I’m concerned you can schedule domestic flights in a country other than your home country (e.g. witha via-flight) but no passengers will be booked. Or do you have any proof of anything else? Have you tried?

3

Voeni, ....yes, you should be able to schedule a flight using 'via' and no passenger should be booked. However, when you look at the A/S worlds, at least in Fornebu and Pearls, you can see several Airlines picking up passengers from routes that are essentially 'domestic' or 'local'. 

4

Voeni, ....yes, you should be able to schedule a flight using 'via' and no passenger should be booked. However, when you look at the A/S worlds, at least in Fornebu and Pearls, you can see several Airlines picking up passengers from routes that are essentially 'domestic' or 'local'. 

That some players schedule such flights doesn't mean that does work...

You can fly Johannesburg-Lagos-Abuja but you won't get any passengers joining your connection on LOS-ABV-LOS but only on JNB-LOS. (The same rule for everywhere else.)

You should fly JNB-LOS-DKR as you will have full rights on the whole routing. You have to cross borders twice to make it work.

Which means: The Y.D. is reflected correctl because we don't have right No. 8 & 9.

5

Hi Midas, I recommend you take a look at the game mechanics, forum search and the wiki again. Then you'll understand that the African treaty is impleted exactly the way you described it. The issue is that the demand for international routes is distributed proportionatly to all airports in a country, so that you are always will be able to collect a few transfer passengers even on domestic foreign flights.

For instance a Kenyan airline can fly the route CPT-JNB-NBO. It will not be allowed to sell tickets to passengers whos final destination is JNB, but those who want to fly ton NBO are actually allowed to use the CPT-JNB leg for transfer...

6

FENCC01 and Eky, .....I am actually looking at my Flight management screen now for all the local flights between two Airports within a country and it not only shows the flight of the Foreign Airline but it also shows the fact that it is 'bookable' and goes on to show the 'price' for the seats! So how do you explain that??

7

The fact that it appears bookable and has a price has nothing to do with it being actually allowed. As explained above by several fellow players, it is implemented exactly as it is.

8

FENCC01 and Eky, .....I am actually looking at my Flight management screen now for all the local flights between two Airports within a country and it not only shows the flight of the Foreign Airline but it also shows the fact that it is 'bookable' and goes on to show the 'price' for the seats! So how do you explain that??

Bookable just means not full and the price is whatever the player set the price at (which is relevant for forming legal connections).  The fact that it is bookable would indicate that is not full, and more likely that everything is working as it should.

9

Yup, seems to work correctly, only 5th freedom.

I started company in JNB, made via flight JNB-LOS-ABV. In route management I'm shown that passenger traffic rights on LOS-ABV leg is not there. 

10

In furtherance to your explanation guys, I also discovered that I could not find the foreign airline's flight on offer in the Flight Reservation query. Thank you for the clarification guys. It is much appreciated. 

11

I love it when stuff just works as intended  :D

12

I have this issue in A/S that defies all logic. I scheduled a 'via' flight starting with LOS - (via) BJL - LTN. Both Countries, Nigeria & Gambia, are part of the Yamoussoukro Decision and yet the BJL - LTN leg does not register on the Reservation system (same problem with the return leg LTN - BJL). I have tried to figure out what I might have done wrong but can't find any reason why it does not show or register on the Reservation system.

13

I have this issue in A/S that defies all logic. I scheduled a 'via' flight starting with LOS - (via) BJL - LTN. Both Countries, Nigeria & Gambia, are part of the Yamoussoukro Decision and yet the BJL - LTN leg does not register on the Reservation system (same problem with the return leg LTN - BJL). I have tried to figure out what I might have done wrong but can't find any reason why it does not show or register on the Reservation system.

BJL - LTN is definitely invalid because UK is not part of the Yamoussoukro Decision.

If you do LOS - BJL - CPT (or another place within Yamoussoukro Decision) then the flight would be valid

14

Interesting! I always thought the 5th freedom of air right did not necessarily involve the country of final destination. Apparently not! 

So BJL - LOS - LAD would work but not BJL  - CMN - MRS?? Or as was the case with me; LOS - BJL - LTN. 

In essence, all 3 nations have to be signatories to the Y/D??

15

Interesting! I always thought the 5th freedom of air right did not necessarily involve the country of final destination. Apparently not! 

So BJL - LOS - LAD would work but not BJL  - CMN - MRS?? Or as was the case with me; LOS - BJL - LTN. 

In essence, all 3 nations have to be signatories to the Y/D??

In essence, all 3 nations have to be signatories to the Y/D??... Yes :) 

If you want to reach a country not part of the treaty, you can only link it with the country you have right in.

16

Thank you for the clarification.