United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Signs Modernized Air Transport Services Agr

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the United States (U.S.) and Argentine Minister of Transport Guillermo Dietrich have signed a Protocol of Amendment that modernizes the 1985 Air Transport Services Agreement between the United States and Argentina. Conclusion of the Protocol demonstrates the close and cooperative relationship between the governments of the United States and the Argentine Republic.

"This agreement will expand our two countries' already strong commercial and economic ties by supporting greater air travel and commerce," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

This modernization of the bilateral civil aviation relationship between the United States and Argentina will benefit travelers, businesses, shippers, airports, and localities by permitting increased market access for passenger and all-cargo airlines to fly between our two countries and beyond. The Protocol further commits both governments to high standards of safety and security. Its provisions entered into force today after the signing.

The new Protocol modernizes the U.S.-Argentina air transport market by allowing for increased competition and service to more destinations. It includes unrestricted capacity and frequency, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities. The Protocol results in a market that allows airlines to make commercial decisions based on demand without intervention from government regulators.

The U.S.-Argentina air transport market is the third largest U.S. market in the region, and last year, U.S. and Argentine airlines carried nearly 1.8 million passengers between our two countries. Nearly one million of those passengers traveled on the Miami-Buenos Aires route alone.