U.S., Japan finally agree on aviation rights.

A long-simmering, often acrimonious disagreement between the United States and Japan over aviation rights finally has been laid to rest. The new agreement, reached after 11 days of negotiations in Washington, opens new routes to both U.S. and Japanese carriers and resolves outstanding issues such as the issuance of beyond rights for U.S. carriers flying from Japan to other Asian countries.

The agreement removes all restrictions on incumbent carriers--United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Federal Express--that serve Japan as a result of the original 1952 aviation trea