99. BIMP-EAGA has undertaken important policy initiatives. In 2007, the EAGA Leaders designated BIMP-EAGA as the test bed for the implementation of ASEAN agreements particularly with regard to transport and trade facilitation. The BIMP-EAGA Transport Ministers signed four important agreements on air, land and sea transport since 2007 to further connectivity within the sub-region. The air agreement in particular is considered a landmark agreement for the designation of secondary international airports as
“fifth freedom traffic rights” (FFTR) airports. However, current market conditions for passenger and cargo traffic do not support the rapid development of intra-EAGA air connectivity. Despite the “open skies” agreement, the air traffic within the BIMP-EAGA region remains light. Intra-EAGA maritime transport has also not improved substantially. Many of the designated routes for land, air and sea transport have been explored and tested by commercial operators and some of them have been suspended due to low load factor.