The US and Kenya have signed an amendment to their existing Air Transport Agreement adding seventh-freedom rights for all-cargo flights.
The agreement was signed at the US Department of State in Washington by Kenyan transport secretary James Macharia and US assistant secretary for economic and business affairs Manisha Singh.
Seventh freedom, sometimes called stand-alone cabotage, allows airlines to carry cargo within or to and from foreign countries without operating a continuing service to their home country. For example, it would allow US carriers to fly cargo between two Kenyan airports or between Kenya and a foreign country other than the US, or without transiting the US.
According to the US Department of State statement it will allow US airlines to perform international air transportation services from points behind the US via the US and intermediate points to any point or points in Kenya and beyond; and for all-cargo service, between Kenya and any point or points.
For Kenyan airlines it allows air transport from points behind Kenya via Kenya and intermediate points to any point or points in the US and beyond; and for all-cargo service, between the United States and any point or points.
The amendment which has already been applied in practice since it was negotiated on December 4 will come officially into force when diplomatic formalities are completed.
