Short Distance Travel. For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by a foreign-flag air carrier is three hours or less and service by a U.S.-flag air carrier would double the travel time.
Short Distance Travel. For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a non‐U.S. carrier is permissible if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by non‐U.S. carrier is three (3) hours or less and service by U.S. carrier would double the travel time. Further exceptions in the Code of Federal Regulations include: When the U.S. air carrier only has seats in first and/or business class, and economy class service is available from a non‐U.S. air carrier. When non‐U.S. air carrier service is deemed a matter of necessity per the following: When the agency determines that use of a non‐U.S. air carrier is necessary for medical reasons, including use of non‐U.S. air carrier service to reduce the number of connections and possible delays in the transportation of persons in need of medical treatment; or When use of a non‐U.S. air carrier is required to avoid an unreasonable risk to your safety and is approved by your agency (e.g. terrorist threats). Written approval of the use of non‐U.S. air carrier service based on an unreasonable risk to your safety must be approved by your agency on a case by case basis. An agency determination and approval of use of a non‐U.S. air carrier based on a threat against a U.S. flag air carrier must be supported by a travel advisory notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of State. An agency determination and approval of use of a non‐U.S. air carrier based on a threat against U.S. Government employees or other travelers must be supported by evidence of the threat(s) that form the basis of the determination and approval; or When you cannot purchase a ticket in your authorized class of service on a U.S. flag air carrier, and a seat is available in your authorized class of service on a non‐U.S. air carrier.
