US, Saudi Arabia clinch open skies agreement
19 Apr 2011
Washington: The United States of America and Saudi Arabia have entered into an Open Skies Agreement aimed at liberalising bilateral aviation relations.
''This agreement strengthens and expands our already strong trade and tourism links with Saudi Arabia, and will benefit American and Saudi Arabian businesses and travellers,'' the State Department said in a statement.
It will expand air service and encourage vigorous price competition by airlines, while safeguarding aviation safety and security, the statement said.
''The agreement, which will be applied on the basis of comity and reciprocity pending its entry into force, will liberalise our bilateral aviation relationship,'' it said.
The US has the aviation agreement with over 100 partners from every region of the world and at every level of economic development. It signed a similar agreement with regional power India in 2005.
Open Skies agreements expand international passenger and cargo flights and seek to eliminate government interference in commercial airline decisions about routes, capacity and pricing.
Open Skies policy rejects the practice of highly restrictive air services agreements protecting flag carriers.
