In a significant development, the United States and Nigeria have announced the reintroduction of a comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, aimed at boosting bilateral aviation ties and strengthening the economic and commercial partnership between the two nations. This landmark agreement, which had been provisionally applied since 2000, officially came into force on May 13, 2024, marking a major milestone in the aviation sector.

The agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship between the two countries, consistent with the U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy and committed to high standards of aviation safety and security. Key features of the agreement include:

– Unrestricted capacity and frequency of flights

– Open route rights

– Liberal charter regime

– Open code-sharing opportunities

This agreement is a significant step forward in liberalizing the international civil aviation sector in Africa, expanding the strong economic and commercial partnership between the U.S. and Nigeria, promoting people-to-people ties, and creating new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers. With this agreement, air carriers can provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, which in turn promotes tourism and commerce.