EU and US close to agreeing 'open skies' - claim

Airline Industry Information, May 21, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The European Union and the United States are reportedly getting close to agreeing an 'open skies' agreement.

The agreement to liberalise the transatlantic aviation market would replace the current patchwork of US agreements with individual EU member states. The EU has said that for a deal to be reached the US must open some of its domestic routes to European airlines, however the Bush administration has refused as opening up the domestic market to foreign carriers would require legislative changes it is not prepared to seek.

The US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has suggested that the two sides are very close to finalising the details of an agreement, reported Reuters.

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