Tuesday, November 29, 2005
US / EU 'Open Skies' agreement obscured by clouds
Negotiations between the United States and the European Union to remove the current restrictions on airlines from each area operating in the other looks set to fail. It was hoped that agreement could have been reached at a meeting of EU Transport Ministers on December 5. The deal would have allowed EU airlines to operate on US domestic routes and vice versa. A draft agreement had been prepared but Alistair Darling, the UK's Transport Secretary, believes that the US would need to open up their market even more before it can be adopted.
BA also doubts the agreement will be a success at it would open up the lucrative Heathrow to United States to other operators other than BA, Virgin Atlantic from the UK and American Airlines and United Airlines from the USA. It would allow US airlines to fly to Heathrow and pick up passengers and fly them to another EU destination. It would not allow BA to pick passengers up in New York and fly them to another US city.
BA also doubts the agreement will be a success at it would open up the lucrative Heathrow to United States to other operators other than BA, Virgin Atlantic from the UK and American Airlines and United Airlines from the USA. It would allow US airlines to fly to Heathrow and pick up passengers and fly them to another EU destination. It would not allow BA to pick passengers up in New York and fly them to another US city.
