Shura Council set to ratify milestone Bahrain-Kyrgyz air services agreement on Sunday

TDT | Manama

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A Bahrain-Kyrgyz air services deal signed in Manama on 21 April 2025 goes before the Shura Council on Sunday, with a vote due on the bill needed to bring it into force.

Members will consider a draft law to ratify the agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on air services, attached to Decree No. 35 of 2025.

The Shura Council’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has advised backing the bill.

It said the text does not conflict with the Constitution and must be issued by law to take effect in Bahrain under the second paragraph of Article 37.

Preamble

The draft law has a preamble and two articles. The first provides for ratification of the agreement; the second is an implementing provision.

The agreement itself runs to a preamble, 27 articles and an annex that lists the routes to be served by carriers named by both sides.

The committee said the text grants standard traffic rights, including overflight and the right to stop in the other party’s territory for non-commercial purposes.

It gives each side the right to name air transport enterprises to operate the agreed services, and to grant operating authorisations under stated conditions.

Pricing is addressed through fare rules that allow designated airlines to set fares on commercial grounds, while reserving limited scope for intervention in defined cases.

Capacity rules provide for fair and equal chances for designated airlines, with services tied to public demand and with enough seats and space for passengers, cargo and mail.

Other provisions apply each country’s laws and rules to designated airlines, passengers, crew, baggage, cargo and mail.

The agreement also deals with mutual recognition of airworthiness certificates and licences issued or validated by either side, and sets out cases where a party may refuse recognition, including where documents are issued for its own nationals by the other party or a third state for flights over its territory.

The text includes a clause allowing either side to restrict flights over its territory or landings at its airports on a temporary basis, with immediate effect, during emergencies or for reasons linked to public security.

Tax

It also covers customs duty and tax exemptions in line with the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention.

Safety and security provisions allow either party to seek talks on safety standards relating to crew or aircraft, and describe follow-up steps after checks.

The agreement also requires both parties to protect civil aviation from unlawful interference and to act under the treaties and protocols on aviation security to which they are parties, including providing help to prevent unlawful seizure of aircraft and other unlawful acts, and setting procedures for dealing with incidents or threats.

There are clauses on the security of passports and other travel documents, and on dealing with inadmissible, deported and undocumented passengers, with reference to recommended measures under the Chicago Convention.

The agreement also lists conduct that may be treated as unfair competition and sets out a process for aviation authorities to seek consultations and, if needed, take the matter into the dispute process.