Press Releases 2008

U.S. and Jamaican Government Sign Open Skies Agreement

Brenda LaGrange Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, and Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh signed an Open Skies agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the United States of America to enhance aviation and trade relations between the two countries.  The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 30, 2008.

The Open Skies agreement will allow air carriers of the United States and Jamaica to make decisions on routes, capacity, and pricing, and fully liberalizes conditions for charters and other aviation activities including unrestricted code-sharing rights. By allowing air carriers unlimited access to intermediate and beyond points, the agreement will provide maximum operational flexibility for airline alliance partners.

Ambassador Johnson expressed her pleasure with the signing of the agreement, noting that

Jamaica and the United States initialed an Open Skies Agreement in 2002, bringing numerous benefits to both countries.  “The growth in air services will continue to complement and contribute to the expansion of bilateral economic, tourism, and political relations between the United States and Jamaica,” said Ambassador Johnson.

 

She further added that while the current global economic environment is certainly challenging, “We see this as an ideal time to further open the market.  As circumstances permit, Jamaican and U.S. carriers will have the flexibility they will need to respond to new opportunities in ways that make commercial sense.”

Open Skies agreements lead to expanded demand for international aviation service and create new business for international air carriers. In addition, the agreements promote increased travel and trade, productivity, high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. They do this by reducing government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers, freeing them to provide affordable, convenient and efficient air service for consumers.

The United States has achieved Open Skies with 90 countries from every region of the world and at every level of economic development. Read more on Open Skies at http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/tra/c661.htm