Undersecretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Carlos Holguin signed the Open Skies Agreement between the two countries on November 16.
Open Skies Air Transport agreements establish legal frameworks for international air transport to facilitate the growth of an efficient market-based international civil aviation system.
This bilateral Open Skies Agreement allows for the expansion of passenger and cargo flights between Ecuador and the United States, thereby promoting increased travel and trade and ultimately driving high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. Both sides have been applying the terms of the agreement since the end of negotiations in December 2021, based on courtesy and reciprocity. The agreement will enter into force upon the exchange of diplomatic notes.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Open Skies Act. The United States has Open Skies air transport agreements with more than 130 partners. More than 70 percent of international departures from the United States are flown for Open Skies partners. According to the US Travel Association, 75 million international visitors spend nearly $250 billion in the United States each year, benefiting American jobs in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers and domestic airlines.
For more information, contact the Press Office of the Office of Economic and Business Affairs at EB-Press-Inquiry@state.gov for press inquiries. Information on United States aviation policy and Open Skies agreements is available on the State Department website.
