United States-Nigeria open skies air transport pact comes into force

The US-Nigeria Air Transport Agreement, which has been provisionally applied since 2000, entered into force on May 13, 2024.

This bilateral agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with Nigeria consistent with US Open Skies international aviation policy and with commitments to high standards of aviation safety and security.

The agreement includes provisions that allow for unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities.

According to the US government: “This agreement with Nigeria is a step forward in liberalising the international civil aviation sector in Africa and further expands our strong economic and commercial partnership, promotes people-to-people ties, and creates new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers.

According to the US Travel Association, average fares are 32 per cent lower on routes subject to the Open Skies policy, making travel more affordable for Americans exploring new destinations or connecting with loved ones abroad.