U.S. Reaches Open Skies Accord with Australia

The United States and Australia have reached agreement on a comprehensive Open Skies framework to expanding and liberalizing our bilateral civil aviation relations. The agreement was initialed on February 14, after three days of talks in Washington between an Australian delegation, led by Stephen Borthwick from the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and a U.S. delegation led by State’s Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs that included officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The U.S.-Australia Open Skies agreement represents a market-oriented approach to aviation relations: airlines, not governments, will decide which cities to serve, the frequency of flights, the equipment used, and the prices charged. The agreement will strengthen and expand our already strong trade and tourism links with Australia, and provide multi-million dollar benefits to American and Australian carriers and the traveling public, while preserving our commitments to aviation safety and security.

Australian and American carriers will enjoy the benefits of liberalization on the basis of comity and reciprocity, pending the formal signing and entry into force of the Agreement. The United States has concluded Open Skies agreements with 90 countries and territories, and we are pleased to have achieved this important accord.

Questions concerning this agreement may be directed to Ms. Terri Robl, Director, Office of Aviation Negotiations, U.S. Department of State, phone: 202-647-5843.

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