Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell and the Republic of Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka signed an Open Skies Air Transportation Agreement today on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku‘alofa to advance bilateral aviation cooperation. The Agreement aims to elevate the civil aviation transportation relationship between the United States and Fiji to modern standards.
The Agreement with Fiji is expected to enhance economic and commercial partnerships, promote people-to-people ties, and create new opportunities for customers, airlines, and travel companies. Under this Agreement, Fiji Airways plans to launch non-stop flights between Dallas and Fiji starting this December. Air carriers will be able to offer more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, thereby promoting tourism and commerce. The Agreement also commits both governments to maintaining high standards of aviation safety and security.
The terms of the Agreement include 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 Agreement entered into force upon signature.
This new Agreement builds on a framework of U.S. Open Skies agreements with over 135 other partners that enable U.S. air carriers to operate and expand flight networks beyond U.S. borders, connecting the U.S. economy to growing markets.
For further information and press inquiries, please contact the Department of State Economic and Business Affairs Press Office at: EB-Press-Inquiry@state.gov. Information on U.S. aviation policy and Open Skies agreements is available on the Department of State’s website here: https://www.state.gov/civil-air-transport-agreements/.
