The path for airline services between Greece and Mongolia has opened after a bill was ratified in the Greek parliament on Tuesday. The bill was submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and titled "Ratification of the Air Services Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the Mongolian Government".
Deputy Minister Christina Alexopoulou spoke of an international agreement expected to impact Greece's development plan and national economy positively. The agreement enables direct air connectivity between the two countries and will promote tourism in markets where Greek presence was previously absent.
Additionally, it will contribute to the emergence of new opportunities for consumers and businesses.
As party rapporteurs raised concerns about aviation safety, Alexopoulou stressed that the Agreement devotes a large part of its provisions to safety issues.
She said Greek authorities will have the right to inspect any Mongolian aeroplanes in its territory, while the safety rules observed will include those of the European Union.
Greece agrees with Mongolia that the provisions for aviation safety will be implemented according to the law applicable in each country, with Greece also including the law of the European Union. This means that travellers who choose to use Mongolian Airlines will know that they enjoy the high safety standards provided by Greek and European legislation.
The bill was rejected by the Greek Communist Party (KKE) and Niki while the Elliniki Lysi voted 'present'.
The agreement was signed last year by Greek Transport Minister Christos Staikouras and his Mongolian counterpart, Byambatsogt Sandag, paving the way for mutually beneficial collaborations in air transportation and new opportunities for consumers and businesses in the industry.
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