The Argentine government has taken another step in its Open Skies policy by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Paraguay, marking the sixth review of bilateral agreements in the region. This policy, according to the Argentine Secretary of Transportation, will “increase the number of flights between the countries, boost tourism, and attract investments in the sector.”
Paraguay joins other countries in the region such as Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Uruguay, as well as Panama and Canada, which have already signed similar agreements. The conditions of the Memorandum with Paraguay resemble those signed with Chile and Uruguay, involving a total liberalization of traffic between the countries and enabling continuous and autonomous domestic operations, also known as the eighth and ninth freedoms of the air.
“The Open Skies policy and deregulation of the aviation sector are driven by the Ministry of Deregulation and State Transformation, led by Federico Sturzenegger, in collaboration with the Secretary of Transportation,” stated the latter.
With this Memorandum of Understanding, both countries commit to negotiating a new Air Services Agreement, which will allow for the liberation of flights, multiple airline designations, fare deregulation, and strengthening of operational safety.
In addition to the aforementioned domestic operations, the revised agreement will permit unlimited flights in terms of quantity and destinations, with no reciprocity restrictions between operators of each country. “Each airline can determine the number of flights based on market demand,” stated the government communication.
The Argentine Secretary of Transportation, Franco Mogetta, and Nelson Mendoza, President of the National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC) of Paraguay signed the agreement. Also present from Argentina were the Secretary of Tourism, Environment and Sports, Daniel Scioli, and the Secretary of International Economic Relations, Ambassador Marcelo Cima.
