[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42095-42096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14900]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); Fly America Act--United States 
and European Union Open Skies Agreement (US-EU Open Skies Agreement)

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy (MTT), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice provides preliminary information to Federal 
agencies on the US-EU Open Skies Agreement.

DATES: The US-EU Open Skies Agreement dated April 30, 2007 will be 
effective for the transportation of passengers on March 30, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Umeki Gray Thorne, phone: (202) 
208-7636; e-mail at [email protected], or Jim Harte, phone: (202) 
501-0483 or e-mail at [email protected], Office of Governmentwide 
Policy (MTT), General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 30, 2007, the United States--
European Union Air Transport Agreement was signed, providing community 
airlines (airlines of the European Community and its Member States) the 
right to

[[Page 42096]]

transport passengers and cargo on U.S. Government procured 
transportation for both scheduled and charter flights, subject to 
certain conditions. Specifically, community airlines may transport 
passengers and cargo on scheduled and charter flights for which a U.S. 
Government civilian department, agency, or instrumentality:
    (1) Obtains the transportation for itself or in carrying out an 
arrangement under which payment is made by the U.S. Government or 
payment is made from amounts provided for the use of the U.S. 
Government, or
    (2) Provides the transportation to or for a foreign country or 
international or other organization without reimbursement, and the 
transportation is:
    (a) between any point in the United States and any point in a 
Member State, except--with respect to passengers only--between points 
for which there is a city-pair contract fare in effect, or
    (b) between any two points outside the United States.
    This provision described above does not apply to transportation 
funded by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military 
department.
    The Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), section 301-10.135 (b) (41 CFR 
301-10.135(b)) includes an exception to the use of U.S. flag air 
carrier service when the transportation is provided under a bilateral 
or multilateral air transportation agreement to which the U.S. 
Government and the government of a foreign country are parties, and 
which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the 
requirements of the Fly America Act. As the U.S.-EU Open Skies 
agreement is such an air transportation agreement, the General Services 
Administration (GSA) intends to issue regulations addressing the 
content of the provision on U.S. Government procured transportation 
included in the agreement to ensure that all are aware of the change 
made by the agreement. Regulations addressing air passenger 
transportation will be included in the FTR.
    GSA is in the process of drafting a proposed rule with request for 
comments on proposed revisions to the FTR that will be published in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: July 17, 2007.
Becky Rhodes,
Deputy Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-14900 Filed 7-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P