By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Department of State today announced the signing of an open skies air transportation agreement between the United States and Fiji, paving the way for Fiji Airways' plans to launch non-stop flights between Dallas and Fiji in December.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka signed the agreement on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku‘alofa.
Officials said open skies will allow air carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, promoting tourism and commerce in the region.
"The agreement will bring the civil aviation transportation relationship between the United States and Fiji to the highest modern standard," the State Department said in a press release.
"The agreement with the Republic of Fiji will expand our strong economic and commercial partnership, promote people-to-people ties, and create new opportunities for customers, airlines, and travel companies," the department said,
The agreement, which immediately takes effect, allows unrestricted capacity and frequency of services for both passenger and all-cargo carriers, open route rights, an open charter regime, self-handling provisions, and open code-sharing opportunities.
"The new agreement builds on a framework of U.S. open skies agreements with more than 135 other partners that enable U.S. air carriers to operate and expand flight networks beyond U.S. borders and connect the U.S. economy to growing markets," according to the department's Office of the Spokesperson.
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