Civil aviation officials representing the governments of the United States and
Antigua and Barbuda have been engaged in discussions that will lead to the signing
of a new air-services agreement, which is classified as an ‘open-skies’ agreement
by the US.
Aviation Consultant, Ambassador Brian Challenger, revealed that the discussions
have been ongoing since last December and that the outlines of an agreement have
already been finalized.
He explained that the current legal framework for international civil aviation
between Antigua and Barbuda and the USA is the 1977 US-UK Air Services
Agreement which Antigua and Barbuda acceded to at independence in 1981.
Despite the restrictive nature of the 1977 agreement, and with the advances that
have taken place since then, both countries have found ways to work together on
civil aviation matters to their mutual benefit.
According to Amb. Challenger the US has signed similar open skies agreement
with more than ninety countries and territories around the world and the agreement
being discussed with Antigua and Barbuda will include similar provisions.
“The new agreement provides the opportunity to formally replace the 1977
arrangements with an agreement that incorporates current ICAO best practices and
principles and which reflects the safety, security and commercial practices that are
already in large part being observed “on the ground”,” Challenger explained.
At the successful conclusion of the negotiations, the negotiators will present the
draft agreement to their respective governments for their approval and assent.
