Open skies aviation policy between Brazil and Argentina

Within the framework of meetings held on March 6th and 7th between the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) and the National Civil Aviation Administration  of Argentina (ANAC) , the Director of ANAC Brasil, Tiago Pereira and his Argentine counterpart, Gustavo Marón, signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing  the open skies aviation policy between Brazil and Argentina. The memorandum eliminates the weekly limits on regular passenger flights and facilitates the authorization of cargo flights.

The signing of the memorandum will allow Brazilian and Argentine airlines to freely determine the number of passenger flights they are to offer between the two countries. Until now, companies from each country were collectively limited to a maximum of 170 weekly flights, as regulated by each nation. The measure will also provide more operational flexibility for airlines, which could lead to an increase in services offered and improve competition on routes connecting Brazil and Argentina.

The Memorandum also expands permission for cargo service operations, allowing airlines from both countries to transport international cargo without the requirement that the operation start or finish in the company's country of origin (rights known in the industry as the “Seventh Freedom of the Air”). Recently, in addition to the agreement with Argentina, Brazil negotiated similar rights for cargo operations in the region with Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The agreement also recognizes the need to renegotiate the bilateral air services agreement to consolidate the advancements achieved and update the bilateral legal framework in the sector, currently governed by an agreement signed in 1948.