Open Skies

Open skies is an international policy concept that calls for the liberalization of the rules and regulations of the international aviation industry—especially commercial aviation—in order to create a free-market environment for the airline industry. Its primary objectives are:

  • to liberalize the rules for international aviation markets and minimize government intervention as it applies to passenger, all-cargo, and combination air transportation as well as scheduled and charter services; and
  • to adjust the regime under which military and other state-based flights may be permitted.

For open skies to become effective, a bilateral (and sometimes multilateral) Air Transport Agreement must be concluded between two or more nations.

Read more about Open Skies:  Background, First Step Towards A Civil Transport Regime, Civil Transport Open Skies, Key Open Skies Provisions, Military Regulation

Famous quotes containing the words open and/or skies:

    I would not unduly praise the virtue of restraint. It is often merely temperamental. But it is not always a sign of coldness. It may be pride. There can be nothing more humiliating than to see the shaft of one’s emotion miss the mark of either laughter or tears. Nothing more humiliating! And this for the reason that should the mark be missed, should the open display of emotion fail to move, then it must perish unavoidably in disgust or contempt.
    Joseph Conrad (1857–1924)

    O make harmonious mix of voice and string
    To him by whom the skies with clouds are lin’d;
    By whom the rain, from clouds to drop assign’d,
    Supples the clods of summer-scorched fields,
    —Bible: Hebrew Psalm CXLVII (Paraphrased by The Countess of Pembroke)