US/Chinese Agreement Signed: Cargo Flights Increasing
An agreement was yesterday signed between the United States and China, in which cargo flights between the two nations will increase significantly. The deal was signed by Mary E Peters, the US Secretary of Transportation, and Yang Yuanyuan, the Chinese Minister of Civil Aviation. While one aim is in relation to commercial passenger flights, in terms of freight, the agreement permits unlimited cargo flights .
A statement detailing the agreement appeared yesterday on the US Department of Transportation website, which focused heavily on the city of Seattle. Ms Peters, referring to the possibilities and potential to come, described Seattle as “one of the best gateways to the Pacific”. She continued: “Our goal is to make flying from places like Seattle to China as easy as flying to New York or Boston today. And by providing more and cheaper shipping choices to China, this agreement will make it easier for U.S. companies to tap into China’s enormous market.”
Ms Peters also highlighted current industry predictions in terms of the revenue that this cross-continental collaboration would generate; citing figures of up to $5 billion within the combined passenger and freight airlines industries up to 2013, and up to $8 billion in general new business activity within the US.
The agreement follows negotiations between the US and Chinese governments that began in 2006. It was finalised at the Washington-held Strategic Economic Dialogue (SEG) talks, two months ago.
Now that the official signing is complete, both countries are able to immediately progress with instigating additional flights between them, as well as considering proposals from airlines wishing to participate in the scheme. Regarding this last factor, the US Department of Transportation will, later this year, award an airline with the rights to operate across one of the new routes. It is currently accepting bids from airlines wanting to do the same in future years.
Source – Freight International’s US Correspondent
