Australia’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) opened public hearings in Canberra on 27 October 2025 to examine three separate bilateral Air-Services Agreements (ASAs) recently signed with Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Peru. Officials from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts told MPs that each treaty gives Australian and partner-country airlines reciprocal rights to operate passenger and freight services, set fares and enter commercial code-share arrangements. The accords replace decades-old provisional arrangements and are framed to meet modern aviation-security, safety and consumer-protection standards, the department said.
If ratified, the Colombia agreement would establish the first legal framework for direct or fifth-freedom services between the two nations. Trade and Tourism officials highlighted growth in mining-services and agri-tech exports to Colombia and said improved connectivity could cut door-to-door travel times by up to 10 hours. For business travellers, the pact removes capacity caps, allowing airlines to respond quickly to demand spikes linked to resource projects.
The Saudi Arabia treaty updates 1980-era provisions that limited frequencies and aircraft types. Saudi diplomats told the hearing that Saudia and Riyadh Air are evaluating Sydney and Melbourne routes that could begin as early as mid-2026 if the agreement passes Parliament. Australian negotiators said the deal also sets out explicit clauses on gender-neutral crew visas and advance passenger-information sharing—issues of growing compliance concern for multinationals.
Finally, the Peru agreement upgrades rights first negotiated in 1998 and is expected to support growing two-way investment in renewable-energy and education sectors. LATAM Airlines has flagged Lima–Sydney via Auckland flights beginning in late-2026, while Qantas is seeking beyond-rights that would let it sell tickets between Peru and New Zealand on its existing South-American services.
JSCOT chair Shayne Neumann MP signalled the committee would report within six sitting days, paving the way for fast-track ratification before the northern-winter scheduling deadline. Corporate travel managers should monitor seat-capacity announcements closely; once lodged with the International Air Transport Association, new traffic rights can be activated within weeks, offering additional routing and fare-negotiation leverage.
If ratified, the Colombia agreement would establish the first legal framework for direct or fifth-freedom services between the two nations. Trade and Tourism officials highlighted growth in mining-services and agri-tech exports to Colombia and said improved connectivity could cut door-to-door travel times by up to 10 hours. For business travellers, the pact removes capacity caps, allowing airlines to respond quickly to demand spikes linked to resource projects.
The Saudi Arabia treaty updates 1980-era provisions that limited frequencies and aircraft types. Saudi diplomats told the hearing that Saudia and Riyadh Air are evaluating Sydney and Melbourne routes that could begin as early as mid-2026 if the agreement passes Parliament. Australian negotiators said the deal also sets out explicit clauses on gender-neutral crew visas and advance passenger-information sharing—issues of growing compliance concern for multinationals.
Finally, the Peru agreement upgrades rights first negotiated in 1998 and is expected to support growing two-way investment in renewable-energy and education sectors. LATAM Airlines has flagged Lima–Sydney via Auckland flights beginning in late-2026, while Qantas is seeking beyond-rights that would let it sell tickets between Peru and New Zealand on its existing South-American services.
JSCOT chair Shayne Neumann MP signalled the committee would report within six sitting days, paving the way for fast-track ratification before the northern-winter scheduling deadline. Corporate travel managers should monitor seat-capacity announcements closely; once lodged with the International Air Transport Association, new traffic rights can be activated within weeks, offering additional routing and fare-negotiation leverage.
