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DOT 89-06
Contact: Bill Mosley, Tel.: (202) 366-4570
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
United States, Kuwait Sign Open-Skies Aviation Agreement
The United States and Kuwait today agreed to remove all barriers limiting the
number and range of commercial airline flights between the two countries. The
agreement, known as an Open-Skies agreement, means U.S. and Kuwaiti airlines
will be free to set service schedules and prices between the two countries based
on travel demand.
U.S. Ambassador Richard LeBaron and Kuwait’s Director of Civil Aviation Yacoob
Al-Saqer signed the agreement in Kuwait City. Both sides agreed to apply the
terms of the agreement immediately, pending ratification by the Kuwaiti
Parliament.
“This agreement will allow airlines from both countries to expand and improve
their service,” Acting U.S. Transportation Secretary Maria Cino said.
Open-Skies agreements permit unrestricted air service by the airlines of both
sides between and beyond the other’s territory, without restrictions on how
often the carriers can fly, the prices they charge, or the kind of aircraft they
use. The accord with Kuwait also will allow all-cargo carriers to fly between
the other country and third countries without directly connecting to their
homeland.
Although this is the first air services agreement between the two countries,
Kuwait Airways has served the United States since 1978 by the mutual agreement
of the two governments.
The United States now has Open-Skies relationships with 78 aviation partners,
including six in the Middle East.
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Briefing Room