newstodate.aero

Oct 13, 2021 (newstodate): Lithuania is embarking on a process to become the first Baltic country whose airlines may operate flights from Lithuania or any other country into the USA with Lithuania-registered aircraft.
   Today, flights from Lithuania into the USA can only be performed by carriers with aircraft registered in other countries that have implemented the Federal Aviation Administration audit and other procedures of US institutions.
   This month, Lithuania's Minister of Transportation met with  the US Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation and Transportation Security Administration to draw up a plan until 2023 to obtain the pertinent requirements.  
   The entire process will comprise a wide range of economic, safety and security assessments.
   Hopes are that within only a few years, Lithuanian airlines may be allowed to operate freely into the USA with own aircraft on Lithuanian registry.
   This would benefit a carrier like SmartLynx that has set up a subsidiary on Malta, SmartLynx Malta, that obtained its Maltese AOC on April 19, 2019, and landed its Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate in October, allowing it to expand into the North American markets with charter and ACMI services.