It’s too early to pop open the Champagne (or a nice bottle of Croatian wine), but this week’s “Open Skies” agreement between the U.S. and Croatia may just open the skies to direct flights between the two countries. U.S. Transportation Secretary, Mary E. Peters, announced that two days of negotiations have concluded with an Open-Skies agreement that will, for the first time, establish free trade in aviation services between the U.S. and Croatia.
“This agreement continues our effort to improve transportation and trade ties with nations around the world that help our companies and our travelers,” said Secretary Peters. “Today’s agreement lays the groundwork for future air service between the United States and Croatia that will provide new options for travelers as well as economic benefits to both countries.”
Under the new agreement, airlines from both countries will be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand, without limitations on the number of U.S. or Croatian carriers that can fly between the two countries or the number of flights they can operate. The agreement also contains no restrictions on capacity and pricing, and provides opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including code-sharing, between U.S. and Croatian carriers.
This can only be good news for American travellers with a yen to visit Croatia and its constellation of islands. So far, there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Croatia. There was a summer service between Toronto and Zagreb last year but there’s no word on if or when flights will recommence this summer. One can only hope that the agreement will encourage airlines to start direct services between the two countries. Maybe New York to Zagreb? As matters stand, North Americans need to fly to Croatia via a European city (usually London) which adds time and money to the cost of travelling to Croatia. See more about flights to Croatia.
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