What is Open Skies as it relates to the Fly America Act and Federal Travel Regulations?

When travelers (federal employees / grantees / contractors) use federal government funds to travel to/from a foreign country, the Fly America Act requires the use of a U.S. Flag carrier, unless an exception, as listed in the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), is authorized.

One of those FTR exceptions is the use of “Open Skies Agreements”. Although there are over 100 Open Skies agreements which Department of State has negotiated between those countries, currently there are four Open Skies Agreements with the U.S – Switzerland, Australian, Japan, and European Union (29 countries) – that meet the requirements of the Fly America Act. The four agreements do not apply to transportation obtained or funded by the Secretary of Defense or any of their military departments.