USE OF U.S.-FLAG AIR CARRIERS

The Comptroller General of the United States, by Decision B138942 of June 17, 1975, as amended March 31, 1981, provided guidelines for implementation of Section 5 of the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974.

Any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other than the U.S., of persons or property, the expense of which will be charged to a government award, must be performed on a U.S.-flag air carrier if service provided by such carriers is "available."

The following rules apply unless the result would be use of a foreign air carrier ("foreign carrier") for the first or last leg of travel from or to the U.S.:

A U.S.-flag carrier ("U.S. carrier") shall be used to destination or, in the absence of through service, to farthest interchange point.

If a U.S. carrier does not serve an origin or interchange point, a foreign carrier shall be used to the nearest interchange point to connect with a U.S. carrier.

If a U.S. carrier involuntarily reroutes the traveler via a foreign carrier, the foreign carrier may be used.

Exceptions: In the following situations, use of a foreign carrier is permissible:

Travel to and from the U.S. Use of a foreign carrier is permissible:

The airport abroad is the origin or destination airport, and use of a U.S. carrier would extend the total travel time 24 hours or more than would travel by foreign carrier; or

The airport abroad is an interchange point, and use of a U.S. carrier would require the traveler to wait six (6) hours or more to make connection or would extend the total travel time six (6) hours or more than would travel by foreign carrier.

Travel Between Points Outside the U.S. Use of a foreign carrier is permissible if:

Travel by foreign carrier would eliminate two (2) or more aircraft changes en route; or

Travel by U.S. carrier would extend the total travel time six (6) hours or more than would travel by foreign carrier.

Short Distance Travel: For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a foreign carrier is permissible if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by foreign carrier is three (3) hours or less and service by U.S. carrier would double the travel time.

Code Shared Flights:

If a U.S. Flag carrier has an arrangement with a foreign carrier this could meet the requirements of the Fly America Act. However,note the following:

The ticket must identify the U.S. Flag Carrier's two-letter designation code and flight number (located on the right hand side of the passenger receipt).

The ticket must be purchased through the U.S. carrier regardless of price and the U.S. airline code must appear on the ticket (e.g. UA for United Airlines, DL for Delta etc.

You cannot be reimbursed under a sponsored project if your ticket was not purchased through the U.S. Flag carrier.