Northwest Airlines Opposes Guam Open Skies

Northwest Airlines has opposed Guams open skies petition, arguing that the granting of Guams request would be contrary to the public interest because it would impede ongoing efforts to negotiate reciprocal rights with the United States critical foreign trading partners.

In testimony submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation last Feb. 24, Northwest managing director for government affairs Megan Rae Rosia said under no circumstances should U.S. DOT grant such exceptional broad authority to carriers from foreign countries that have restrictive bilateral air agreements with the U.S.

Northwest identified these countries as Australia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.

Granting exceptional extra-bilateral exemption authority to serve Guam certainly would not be appropriate with respect to foreign carriers from countries that have restrictive bilateral agreements with the U.S. that leave the substantial needs of U.S. air carriers unmet and involve ongoing efforts to achieve a balanced exchange of rights through bilateral negotiations, Rosia wrote in her testimony.

The Guam International Airport Authority has filed an open skies petition with the U.S. DOT to increase the number of tourists and airlines servicing the island.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.