U.S. Signs Open Skies Aviation Agreement with Paraguay

U.S. Signs Open Skies Aviation Agreement with Paraguay

The United States is pleased to announce the signing of an Open Skies air transport agreement with Paraguay. U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay John F. Keane and Acting Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Marciel Bobadilla Guillen signed the agreement on May 2, 2005 during a ceremony held in Asunción.

This agreement modernizes U.S.-Paraguayan aviation relations by allowing airlines to make commercial decisions with minimal government intervention. It provides for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations, and pricing, as well as opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including code-sharing. It also includes all-cargo seventh freedom rights, allowing airlines to perform international cargo operations without connecting to their homeland.

Establishing Open Skies as the basis of U.S.-Paraguayan aviation relations is an important step toward spurring trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two nations.

With this signing, Paraguay is the 68th country with which the United States has negotiated a bilateral Open Skies agreement.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/458 Released on May 2, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 2, 2005