Hawaii to host
U.S.-Australia
aviation talks

The discussions will focus
on formulating an 'open-skies'
pact between the two countries

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu has been chosen as the site for high-level aviation talks between the United States and Australia.

Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said yesterday that the talks will be held in Honolulu Feb. 8-10 to begin hammering out a "open-skies" agreement between the two countries.

Hirono met in October with top officials of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the State Department to advocate Honolulu as the venue for the talks.

Representatives of both departments will meet with their Australian counterparts to discuss removing all restrictions so airlines from each country can provide any service they choose into and beyond the other country.

It is not known whether Hawaii tourism might benefit from such an arrangement, but visitor industry officials for several years have pointed to a drop in travel from Australia to the islands, saying it was largely because of a drop in airline service on the route.

Hirono, the Cayetano administration's head negotiator on aviation matters, sees the meeting as a plus for Hawaii as a venue for international talks.

"This selection signals recognition of Hawaii as a natural choice for talks involving the Asia-Pacific region," she said in a statement.

She also said that having the U.S. negotiators in Honolulu will focus attention on the importance of international aviation to Hawaii.