Israel, U.S. ink open skies pact

Israel and the United States signed an open skies agreement.

Such an agreement removes restrictions on the airlines that may schedule flights between the two countries, leaving the determination to the marketplace.

“This agreement is good news for both countries,” Ray LaHood, the U.S. secretary of transportation, said in a statement last Friday, after the agreement was signed.  “Consumers, airlines and economies of both the United States and Israel will enjoy the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service.”

Israeli officials have said that they expect prices to drop substantially as a result of the agreement.

The United States now has open-skies agreements with 97 countries.