Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 27, 2008
United States and Brazil Agree to Expand Air Services The United States and Brazil have reached agreement on a package of significant liberalization measures in our air transportation relations, which will strengthen and expand our already strong trade and tourism links with this important Latin American partner. The agreement will provide for a nearly 50 percent increase in passenger flights between the two countries and eliminate a number of restrictions on U.S.-Brazil air service. The agreement was initialed on June 26, after three days of negotiations in Washington between a Brazilian delegation, led by Ronaldo Seroa da Motta, Director of the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, and a U.S. delegation, led by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, which included officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Any number of U.S. or Brazilian airlines may now serve the market. The agreement will permit additional weekly flights, phased in over the next four years, from 105 to 154 for each country’s carriers. Under the new accord, U.S. and Brazilian carriers for the first time will be able to provide some services on a code-share basis with their third-country partner airlines. The agreement also allows U.S. carriers to serve five new cities in Brazil, including Fortaleza and Curitiba.
The agreement will further expand air cargo services between our countries. The number of weekly cargo flights allowed will increase from 24 to 35 immediately and to 42 in the year 2010. In addition, both sides agreed to increase the number of cargo charter flights from 750 to 1000 immediately and to 1250 by 2010. Intermodal rights were also granted, which will permit U.S. cargo companies to provide door-to-door service in Brazil.
Both countries intend to meet again before the end of 2010 to discuss further expansion of air service opportunities and to continue to work on eliminating restrictions on carrier operations.
Questions concerning this agreement may be directed to Ms. Terri Robl, Director, Office of Aviation Negotiations, U.S. Department of State, telephone: 202-647-5843.
2008/528
Released on June 27, 2008
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