Sep. 10--Open Skies agreements between countries, which allow unrestricted international flights, are beneficial to air cargo companies, shippers and freight forwarders, Brian Hedberg, chief negotiator for Latin America, for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of International Aviation, told attendees Monday at ALTA's Aviation Law Americas conference in Coral Gables.
Hedberg was the keynote luncheon speaker at the event sponsored by ALTA -- the Latin American Air Transport Association. The conference, which has drawn more than 200 attendees, continues Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables.
While 90 such open skies agreements exist, including those with the European Union that go into effect in March, many nations still have restrictive bi-lateral agreements that hinder air cargo shipments. That includes important trading partners Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, Hedberg said.
