Claim Involving Use of Foreign Flag Air Carrier During Travel

An advance decision was requested as to whether the cost of travel on a foreign flag air carrier incident to temporary duty travel could be paid. Payment of the cost of travel on the foreign-flag carrier was authorized since the use of one such carrier saved more than 12 hours from the origin airport to the destination airport, and the use of the other such carrier was essential to accomplish the agency's mission. This situation rendered the American flag air carriers unavailable under 49 U.S.C. 1517.