Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWH) has given its support for an agreement to continue open skies between the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) relating to market-based transactions and financial transparency of airlines of the two countries.
In a statement, the US lessor of freighter aircraft said that the the Record of Discussion document signed by the US and the UAE "resolves concerns expressed by major US passenger airlines without undercutting Open Skies principles, which have been at the core of US international aviation policy for the past 25 years".
Open Skies agreements afford airlines of each signatory country the right to operate flights without restriction between their homeland and the other country, via intermediate points and beyond the other country.
AAWH said that a statement from the White House press secretary "aptly noted that the UAE’s commitments are limited to subjects not covered by the US-UAE Open Skies Agreement".
Bill Flynn, president and chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “Atlas Air Worldwide appreciates the Trump administration’s commitment to upholding the rights enjoyed by airlines of the US and the UAE under the current Open Skies Agreement.
“For Atlas, Open Skies has allowed us to build a global airfreight network based on one-way traffic flows that would not otherwise have been available. Our expansive network increases service options for the US military, American shippers and consumers, enhances US competitiveness and improves the US balance of trade in services.”
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