| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 31, 2006 U.S. Signs Open Skies Aviation Agreement With ChadThe United States is pleased to announce the signing of an Open Skies air transport agreement with Chad. U.S. Ambassador Marc Wall and Chad's Minister of Infrastructure Adoum Younousmi signed the agreement on May 31, 2006 in N'Djamena. This is the first air services agreement between the United States and Chad. It allows airlines to make commercial decisions with minimal government intervention. It provides for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations, and pricing, as well as opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including codesharing. It also includes all-cargo seventh freedom rights, allowing U.S. and Chadian airlines to transport international cargo without connecting to their respective homelands. Establishing Open Skies as the basis of U.S.-Chad aviation relations is an important step toward spurring trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two nations. With this signing, Chad is the 76th country with which the United States has negotiated an Open Skies agreement, and the 17th such country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inquiries about this agreement may be directed to Ms. Caron DeMars in the Office of Aviation Negotiations, (202) 647-7670. ### 2006/559 |
 | |||
|
