The United States and Kenya have reached a comprehensive Open Skies agreement expanding and liberalizing their bilateral civil aviation relations.

The agreement was initialed on May 30, after two days of negotiations in Washington between a Kenyan delegation, led by Permanent Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Transport Eng. Abdulrazaq Adan Ali, and a U.S. delegation, led by the Department of State's Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, and officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The U.S.-Kenya Open Skies agreement represents a market-oriented approach to aviation relations: airlines, not governments, will decide which cities to serve, the frequency of flights, the equipment used, and the prices charged. The agreement will strengthen and expand our already strong trade and tourism links with Kenya, and provide multi-million dollar benefits to American and Kenyan carriers and the traveling public, while preserving our commitments to aviation safety and security.

Kenyan and American carriers will enjoy the benefits of liberalization on the basis of comity and reciprocity, pending the formal signing and entry into force of the agreement. The agreement includes transitional arrangements phasing in opportunities for U.S. airlines to serve intermediate points in Africa over a three-year period. The United States has previously reached Open Skies agreements with 91 countries and territories.

Questions concerning this agreement may be directed to Ms. Terri Robl, Director, Office of Aviation Negotiations, U.S. Department of State, phone: 202-647-5843.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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