Switzerland and Togo sign bilateral air transport agreement

Bern, 05.12.2023 - International air transport is regulated in a number of intergovernmental agreements. On 4 December, Switzerland signed a new bilateral agreement on scheduled air transport with the Togolese Republic. The existing air transport agreement with the United Arab Emirates was also updated on 5 December 2023.

For an airline to fly to a foreign destination, it must have the corresponding rights. The countries concerned regulate these rights in bilateral agreements on scheduled air transport. Switzerland has over 150 such agreements with other countries.

New agreement with Togo
The conclusion of the new agreement with the Togolese Republic modernizes and further liberalizes the traffic rights between the two states. The newly signed agreement will replace the existing air transport agreement from 1980. It will allow that flights between Switzerland and Togo can be operated in a liberal market environ-ment that meets the requirements of modern aviation. The agreement with Togo is in line with the Federal Council's efforts to secure transport links to as many intercontinental destinations as possible.

Updating the agreement with the United Arab Emirates
In 2017, Switzerland signed a new air transport agreement with the United Arab Emirates. It came into effect on 20 July 2023. The two countries are expanding the scope of the agreement to include intermodal transport, meaning airlines will be able to provide additional transport services (e.g. by rail, road, water) in conjunction with international flights.

The new agreement with Togo and the updated agreement with the United Arab Emirates were approved by the Federal Council on 22 November. They will come into effect once procedures in the Togolese Republic and the United Arab Emirates are completed.

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