U.S., Israel Reach “Open Skies” Pact for Air Travel

Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that the United States and Israel have reached agreement on “Open Skies” which will liberalize airline travel between the two nations.

LaHood said both countries will enjoy “the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service.”

Here’s what else it means, per the DOT press release:

“Under the new agreement, airlines from both countries will be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for both passenger and cargo services, without limitations on the number of U.S. or Israeli carriers that can fly between the two countries or the number of flights they can operate.  It will also provide unlimited opportunities for U.S. and Israeli carriers to serve the market through cooperative marketing arrangements, including code-sharing.” – DOT, 4-23-10