In the framework of the meetings between the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) and the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) of Argentina, which took place on March 6 and 7, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Tiago Pereira, Director-President of ANAC Brazil, and his Argentine counterpart, Gustavo Marón.
This MoU establishes the open skies policy in the air market between Brazil and Argentina, ending the weekly limits on regular passenger flights and facilitating the liberalization of cargo flights.
According to a statement, Brazilian and Argentine airlines can now freely determine the number of passenger flights they intend to offer between the two countries.
Until now, companies on each side were limited to offering, together, a maximum of 170 weekly flights, according to the regulations of each country.
The Memorandum also extends permits for cargo service operations, allowing airlines from both countries to transport international cargo without requiring the operation to begin or end in the company’s country of origin (rights known in the sector as «Seventh Freedom of the Air»). In addition to the agreement with Argentina, Brazil negotiated similar rights for cargo in the region with Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The instrument also recognizes the need to renegotiate the agreement on bilateral air services, consolidate the achievements made, and update the bilateral legal framework in the sector, which is currently governed by an agreement signed in 1948.
Such results are the outcome of joint efforts between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), and the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
