The new agreement is based on open-market principles and allows airlines and consumers to determine the type and quality of air service without government interference. It provides for the immediate liberalization of all cargo and charter services. A three-year transition period for certain passenger services progressively leads to full open skies. Those passenger services include traffic rights on operations via intermediate foreign cities, code-sharing, and the number of cities available for service. Turkish Airways currently serves New York, Chicago and Miami from Istanbul.
Delta flies between New York and Istanbul.
Airlines also may immediately determine the price for services offered, including passenger services covered by the transition, without fear of government disapproval. The agreement also paves the way for U.S. and Turkish airlines to code share with each other and phases in code-sharing with third country carriers.