When is U.S. certificated air carrier service available?
U.S. certificated air carrier service is available if: • The carrier performs the required commercial air transportation, and • The service accomplishes the mission, even though: • A comparable/different kind of service by a non-U.S.-certificated air carrier costs less, • Non-U.S.-certificated air carrier service is preferred by the service/traveler, • Non-U.S.-certificated air carrier service is more convenient for the service/traveler, or • The only U.S.-certificated air carrier service available between points in the CONUS or non-foreign OCONUS location and foreign OCONUS points (49 USC 40102) requires boarding/leaving the carrier between midnight and 6 a.m., or travel spanning those hours (a brief non-work period not to exceed 24 hours may be authorized/approved, for “acclimatization rest” at destination as well as per diem during the rest period when the destination is other than the traveler’s PDS) (56 Comp. Gen 629 (1977)). See JFTR, par. U3125-C1b(4) and JTR, par. C2204-C1b(4).
