In a March 30 ceremony, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will host a ceremony celebrating the negotiation of agreements between the United States and 100 Open Skies partners. The ceremony will take place at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State and will be open to credentialed members of the media.

Open Skies agreements strengthen and expand trade and tourism links, benefitting businesses and travelers by expanding air service and encouraging vigorous competition among airlines, while preserving U.S. commitments to aviation safety and security. The agreements set liberal ground rules for international aviation markets and minimize government intervention. Open Skies Agreements free carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers. Click here for more information on Open Skies Agreements.

The 100^th agreement was reached, ad referendum, on November 11, 2010 between U.S. and Colombian negotiators, which, when it enters into force, will establish an Open Skies air transportation relationship between the two countries. The United States also negotiated an Open Skies agreement with Brazil in December 2010, which was signed in Brasilia on March 19, 2011.

Press access times for the event will be forthcoming in the public schedule.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (U.S. Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

PRESS CONTACTS:
Office of Press Relations
Department of State
(202) 647-2492

Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs
Department of State
Kerry Humphrey
(202) 647-0677