IATA welcomes Bangladesh for showing interest in aviation treaty

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed Bangladesh, as the country has showed positive response to ratify the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99).

The MC99—a multilateral aviation treaty—gives passengers travelling internationally better protection and compensation when a flight is delayed, their luggage lost, delayed or damaged, or in the very rare occasion when there is an accident causing injury or loss of life, IATA said.As many as 131 parties have ratified MC99 so far.

"Over the last two days, we have had very productive meetings with various government officials regarding the aviation environment in Bangladesh,” said Conrad Clifford, the association's regional vice president for Asia Pacific.

“Specifically, we welcome the positive messages from the minister of civil aviation and tourism on the government's commitment to ratify MC99."

Clifford spoke during his two-day visit to Bangladesh last week, IATA said in a statement yesterday.

Bangladesh is among the remaining states in Asia, including Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, which have not ratified the convention, the association said in a statement.

The Montreal Convention 1999 will also help to boost trade, Clifford said.

“Bangladesh is missing out on a huge opportunity to modernise its aviation policies and maximise the economic benefits that aviation can bring.”

The aviation sector currently creates 1.3 million jobs in Bangladesh and $3.3 billion in economic activity, he said.

The sector has the potential to create to 3.3 million jobs and $8 billion in economic activity by 2035, he said. “But to do so, the right policies need to be in place.”