US, China aviation deal to double flights between the countries by 2012
26 May 2007
Secretary Peters and Chinese minister of civil aviation, Yang Yuanyuan, negotiated the deal during the high-level Strategic Economic Dialogue in Washington recently.
The agreement will allow 13 new daily flights by US carriers to and from China, over and above the 10 daily flights currently allowed into Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The expansion will be step-by-step, adding 1 to 3 flights each year over the five years.
One new daily flight will be added in 2007 and 2008, four new daily flights in 2009, three more daily flights in 2010, and two new daily flights in 2011 and 2012 for a total of 23 per day.
"In addition, this agreement will allow the U.S. to designate three additional US carriers to operate to China: one in 2007 and two in 2009. The deal also will provide US cargo carriers with virtually unfettered access to Chinese markets by lifting all government-set limits on the number of cargo flights and cargo carriers serving the two countries by 2011," Secretary Peters added.
Peters said the agreement highlighted the growing economic ties between the US and China.
'Piece by piece, we are making it easier, cheaper, and more convenient to fly people and ship goods between our two countries,' Peters said. 'We both understand that the path to friendship and cooperation is paved with easy access and close connections.'
