U.S. and Saudi Arabia reach initial Open Skies Agreement

U.S. and Saudi Arabia reach initial Open Skies Agreement

2011-04-19 01:22:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The United States Department of State on Monday announced that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia reached an initial Open Skies Agreement.

"The Agreement, which will be applied on the basis of comity and reciprocity pending its entry into force, will liberalize our bilateral aviation relationship," said Acting Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner.

The U.S.-Saudi Arabia agreement will strengthen and expand the trade and tourism links with the Middle East kingdom. It will also benefit both American and Saudi Arabian businesses and travelers.

"It will expand air service and encourage vigorous price competition by airlines, while safeguarding aviation safety and security," added Toner.

The objectives of the U.S. Open Skies policy are to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers; promoting increased travel and trade; enhancing productivity; and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth.

The United States has signed Open Skies agreements with over 100 partners from every region of the world and at every level of economic development, as well as two multilateral Open Skies accords.

In 2001 the U.S. achieved the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transportation (MALIAT) with New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, and Chile, later joined by Samoa, Tonga, and Mongolia; and in 2007, the Air Transport Agreement with the European Community and its 27 Member States.

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