US Embassy Bogota Chargé d’Affaires Francisco Palmieri and Colombia’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez signed the Protocol Amending the 2011 US-Colombia Air Transport Agreement (ATA) today in Bogota. The amendment adds seventh freedom rights to the ATA for US and Colombian freight services and will take effect after the exchange of diplomatic notes. It has been applied on a courtesy and reciprocity basis since its initialization on 14 December 2018.
Amendment rights facilitate the movement of goods around the world, giving airlines greater flexibility to more efficiently meet the needs of their cargo and express customers. Specifically, the amendment allows US airlines to fly cargo services between Colombia and a third country without making a commercial stop in the United States. Colombian airlines have reciprocal rights to serve the United States under the Seventh Freedom for all cargo. This change further expands our strong economic and trade partnership with Colombia, while creating new opportunities for airlines, exporters and consumers. This fully opens the Colombian air transport market to US carriers and is one way the US government deals with US carriers and American workers.
Open Skies agreements, such as the 2011 U.S.-Colombia Air Transport Agreement, provide U.S. airlines with maximum operational flexibility globally and foster economic growth by increasing travel and trade, strengthening supply chains, increasing productivity, and stimulating quality job opportunities. Today’s signing highlights this year’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of US Open Skies international aviation policy.
Information about U.S. aviation policy and our Open Skies air transport agreements is available on the State Department website here: https://www.state.gov/civil-air-transport-agreements//
