Agreement on EU-US Open skies will boost business for all sides

6.15.51pm GMT Thu 22nd Mar 2007

Welcoming today the agreement amongst EU transport ministers to conclude an Open Skies Agreement with the US, Graham Watson MEP, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament said:

"Today's decision, draws to a conclusion several years of tough negotiations blowing hot and cold on the prospects of opening up the lucrative transatlantic aviation market to greater competition. The deal does not appear to offer everything we might have wished for but it is an improvement on the status quo."

"It is not logical or commercially acceptable to limit transatlantic routes from key hubs like Heathrow, to just a few established operators. Consumers and businesses alike stand to benefit from more choice and more competitive pricing."

"There is a genuine concern in some quarters that this agreement will simply add to existing traffic and carbon emissions. This is something that must be addressed by research and development into cleaner and quieter aircraft and fuel. It should not be used as an excuse for unfair competition. We need a wider, fairer means of addressing climate change than just allowing incumbents to run a closed shop on transatlantic aviation."

Paolo Costa (La Margherita, Italy), EP Transport committee chairperson stressed that the agreement will finally put all EU carriers on a level playing field:

"The agreement, whilst still failing to address cabotage rights, nevertheless represents progress by enabling EU operators to fly onto other US destinations, as well as vice versa and complies with the 2002 ECJ ruling against bilateral deals with the USA. We hope still to pursue the outstanding issues in a second phase agreement."

"This joint EU-US transatlantic air services agreement should also facilitate a common understanding and acceptance of each other's safety and security arrangements which hitherto have led to misunderstandings on both sides in the past, including some EU flights being refused access to US airspace."