Use of Foreign Flag Air Carriers During Travel on Official Business

An advance decision was requested as to whether an exception could be made to a decision proscribing the use of foreign-flag air carriers that can be paid for in excess foreign currency when American-flag air carriers are available. A Department of State employee may not use a foreign-flag air carrier during travel while performing temporary duty in order to use excess foreign currency if an American-flag air carrier is available even though the amount expended on the foreign-flag carrier is only a small fraction of the amount that could have been expended in excess foreign currency for the entire trip using mostly American-flag carriers.