Tonga has signed an Air Services Agreement with the United Arab Emirates during the 41^st International Civil Aviation Organisation Triennial General Assembly in Canada.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Hon. Sevenitini Toum’oua, signed the agreement with HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE’s Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority on 3 October.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that this air services agreement paves way for UAE airlines such as Emirates and Ethiad Airways to operate in Tonga, with negotiations to begin shortly.

UAE had also marked 50-years of membership with ICAO while Tonga has been a member since 1984.

The Tongan delegation included the CEO for Infrastructure Lopeti Heimuli, Acting Director for Aviation, 'Emeline Fifita, David Tohi an Advisor for the Ministry of Infrastructure, and Clive Fua, a Quality Assurance and Safety Manager for Lulutai Airlines.