DOT 9-02
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-5571
Secretary Mineta Signs U.S.-France Open-Skies Agreement
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and French Minister of Infrastructure, Transport, and Housing Jean-Claude Gayssot today signed an Open-Skies aviation agreement between their two countries.
The agreement, which was signed in Washington, puts into effect the U.S.-France agreement reached on Oct. 19 and eliminates restrictions on air services to, from and beyond the other’s country. The United States now has 56 bilateral Open-Skies agreements.
“This agreement marks another major step forward in U.S. efforts to create an open market for aviation services through the world,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said. “I am very pleased that France has agreed to move forward with us in establishing an Open-Skies relationship, which will continue to provide more choice for both travelers and shippers.”
Open-Skies agreements eliminate restrictions on how often carriers can fly, the kind of aircraft they can use, and the prices they can charge. The agreement covers both passenger and cargo services, as well as scheduled and charter operations.
The signing of the agreement also allows Delta Air Lines and its partners Air France, the Italian carrier Alitalia, and the Czech Republic carrier CSA, to implement their alliance, which on Jan. 18 was granted immunity from U.S. antitrust laws to the extent necessary to enable them to plan and coordinate services over their respective international route systems. The department conditioned the grant of immunity on completion of the Open-Skies agreement with France. The United States previously had reached Open-Skies agreements with Italy and the Czech Republic.
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