Open Skies Air Transport Agreement between the United States of America and Sri Lanka

The signing took place in the Treaty Room of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., following a meeting between Secretary of State Powell and Foreign Minister Fernando. Secretary Powell and Foreign Minister Fernando also discussed the current status of efforts to end the conflict in Sri Lanka.

The agreement signed today is a tribute to the aviation industry's vitality in overcoming terrorist attacks in both countries during 2001. The agreement provides for cooperation in air traffic security and safety, and was finalized in October 2001 negotiations between U.S. and Sri Lankan aviation experts. It breaks new ground in creating opportunities to strengthen economic relations between the United States and Sri Lanka through closer links in transport, trade and tourism.

The agreement provides for immediate implementation of most Open Skies provisions, including substantially open route rights, unrestricted capacity and frequencies and code-sharing opportunities. A transitional annex provides for full implementation of the remaining Open Skies provisions within a few years and covers pricing, ground-handling, passenger charters and U.S.-Sri Lanka-India passenger service.

The Open Skies agreement creates opportunities for Sri Lankan and American air carriers to develop both countries' aviation market, and potentially beyond to include other partners. Such shared commercial interests build a foundation for the close bilateral cooperation that both our two governments seek to promote.