Letter on Application of the U.S.-UK ATA on the Basis of Comity and Reciprocity

Webp adobestock 204335772
Adobe Stock

Letter on Application of the U.S.-UK ATA on the Basis of Comity and Reciprocity

The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs on Dec. 18, 2020. It is reproduced in full below.

Mark Bosly

Chief Air Services Negotiator

UK Department for Transport

Great Minster House

33 Horseferry Road

London SW1P 4DR

mark.bosly@dft.gov.uk

cc benjamin.taylor@dot.gov; joseph.landart@dot.gov; nicholas.woodbridge@fcdo.gov.uk; rachel.roberts@fcdo.gov.uk; James.Gilderoy@dft.gov.uk; eugene.alford@trade.gov

Re: US/UK Air Services

Dear Mark,

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Nov. 30, 2020, which reads as follows:

I refer you to the Memorandum of Consultations signed on Nov. 28, 2018, by delegations representing the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America in conjunction with the initialling of the ad referendum text of a new Air Transport Agreement (“Agreement") between our two countries. In paragraph 5 of the Memorandum, both delegations expressed their expectation that, pending the entry into force of the Agreement, their respective aeronautical authorities will permit operations consistent with the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity from a date specified by both governments.

Consistent with the intent of the Memorandum of Consultations, on behalf of the UK Government I can now confirm that UK aeronautical authorities are prepared to permit operations consistent with the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity as of Jan. 1, 2021, as the sole basis of U.S.-UK air service relations. If the U.S. Government can provide the same confirmation with respect to U.S. aeronautical authorities, I suggest this letter and your reply to that effect will place on record the joint understanding of our two Governments that our respective aeronautical authorities will permit operations consistent with the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity from Jan. 1, 2021, as the sole basis of U.S.-UK air service relations, until the Agreement enters into force.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, i.e., the U.S. aeronautical authority, has reviewed its contents and expressed its favorable views in response thereto. I am therefore able to confirm on behalf of the U.S. Government that the U.S. aeronautical authority is prepared to permit operations consistent with the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity as of Jan. 1, 2021, as the sole basis of U.S.-UK air services relations. Therefore, we confirm that your letter and this reply place on the record the joint understanding of our two Governments that our respective aeronautical authorities will permit operations consistent with the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity from Jan. 1, 2021, as the sole basis of U.S.-UK air services relations, until the Agreement enters into force.

Best Regards,

Richard Yoneoka

Director, Office of Aviation Negotiations

Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

Department of State

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

More News