Israel reaches "open skies" agreement with the United States

On 23 April 2010 the US Secretary for Transportation, Ray LaHood, announced the negotiation of an "open skies" agreement between the United States and Israel. Israel becomes the USA's 97th "open skies" partner.

A slightly out of date list of those countries that now have "open skies" relationships with the USA, arranged by geographic region, is available here on the Department of Transportation web site. The US Department of State list, which is in chronological order, is more up to date.

It has got to the point where a more interesting list would be of the countries that do not have "open skies" agreements with the United States. Notable absentees include Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam. A 13 April 2010 article in BTNonline.com quotes John Byerly, State's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, commenting on the next negotiating priorities for the United States.

EU Transport Ministers grant EC mandate to negotiate ASA with Israel

At their 7 April 2007 Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council meeting held in Luxembourg under the Slovenian Presidency, European Transport Ministers decided to grant the European Commission a mandate to open negotiations with Israel on a comprehensive air transport agreement (see previous post).

The European Commission has also been seeking a mandate to negotiate such agreements with Australia and New Zealand (see previous post).

EC seeks mandate to negotiate air services agreement with Israel

On 20 November 2007 the European Commission announced that it is requesting a mandate from the Council to negotiate a comprehensive EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement "providing for gradual market opening and a high level of regulatory convergence in the areas of aviation safety, security, air traffic management, competition, state aid, environmental and consumer protection and research."

Civil aviation policy changes recommended in Israel

A 20 April 2007 article in Haaretz reports on recommendations from the Israeli Ministry of Transport to liberalise aspects of Israel's international air transport policy. This includes seeking to negotiate an "open skies" agreement with the European Union.

Israeli Parliament considering removing Airline Antitrust Exemption

On 24 December 2006 Haaretz reported that a committee of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, was considering removing a blanket exemption that airlines enjoy from antitrust scrutiny.

In the United States international airlines seek approval from the Department of Transportation for such practices as code sharing and schedule coordination. New Zealand has similar legislation (Part 9 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 - available www.legislation.govt.nz - gives the decision making power to the Minister of Transport, and this power can be delegated to Ministry of Transport officials) to the United States with respect to international air services, while in Australia the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has jurisdiction over such matters.