EU, U.S. agree tentative "open skies" deal

[SN30952]

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic joined forces on Monday in a concerted last-ditch effort to try to block the proposed treaty to liberalise aviation services between the European Union and the US.

The UK is already appearing isolated in potential opposition.
Spain and Ireland are two of the most enthusiastic supporters of the proposed treaty.

[TexasGuy]

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic joined forces on Monday in a concerted last-ditch effort to try to block the proposed treaty to liberalise aviation services between the European Union and the US.

The UK is already appearing isolated in potential opposition.
Spain and Ireland are two of the most enthusiastic supporters of the proposed treaty.

This doesnt suprise me one bit

[David747]

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are trying to protect their lucrative routes to the United States.

[SN30952]

UK to drop opposition to trans-atlantic aviation deal on Thursday - diplomats tell

Blair is to make a dramatic, last-minute intervention in the row over a new transatlantic aviation pact.
Blair to ask Bush for reprieve on open skies

What are the special concessions for Britain?
The liberalisation of the US aviation industry. Britain wants Washington to relax restrictions on airline ownership and domestic flights.
Tony working for Richard?
BA will continue to lobby ferociously against the deal...

The solution: a five-month delay to the introduction of an open-skies deal.

If not: “automatic termination”, somewhere in Autumn then.

[David747]

UK to drop opposition to trans-atlantic aviation deal on Thursday - diplomats tell

Blair is to make a dramatic, last-minute intervention in the row over a new transatlantic aviation pact.
Blair to ask Bush for reprieve on open skies

Blair has little influence on Bush, and since Bush backs the open skies agreement with the European Union, this deal will most likely go through and the British will have to deal with it as best as possible. That is the reality of the situation as it stands right now.

What are the special concessions for Britain?
The liberalisation of the US aviation industry. Britain wants Washington to relax restrictions on airline ownership and domestic flights.
Tony working for Richard?
BA will continue to lobby ferociously against the deal...

Why should the British get special concessions what makes them special?

The solution: a five-month delay to the introduction of an open-skies deal.

If not: “automatic termination”, somewhere in Autumn then.

Why

[SN30952]

Why should the British get special concessions what makes them special?

The solution: a five-month delay to the introduction of an open-skies deal.
If not: “automatic termination”, somewhere in Autumn then.

Why

Their veto...?

But more interesting is the U-turn on Virgin: US authorities on Tuesday reversed their opposition to plans by Sir Richard.

Now, who has the strongest lobby department? BA or VS?

The Transportation Department on Tuesday outlined a number of changes it wants to see in Virgin America's corporate make up. Assuming the airline makes those alterations, the airline can start offering service.

Among the changes is replacing Fred Reid. The agency said replacing Reid with "a U.S. citizen who has no prior affiliation with the Virgin Group" would remedy regulators' concerns over the airline's independence from Branson.
Virgin America also must modify its trademark license agreement with Virgin Group and the requirement it pay royalties to the Virgin Group.

Looks like a 'left pocket to the right pocket' deal? Long not so virginal, indeed. Virgin America is not an american virgin airline anymore....

[earthman]

Looks like a 'left pocket to the right pocket' deal? Long not so virginal, indeed. Virgin America is not an american virgin airline anymore....

Are you suggesting they should change the name to Village Prostitute America?

[David747]

The issue with Virgin America is a bit different that the open skies agreement don't you think? and as long as American carriers are emerging out of bankruptcy, Virgin America isn't going to fly regardless of who they put in charge of that Foreign company.

[SN30952]

The issue with Virgin America is a bit different that the open skies agreement don't you think?

That's what I said, only a bit, I do not know if it is left or right pocket.
Virgin got concessions in this project, and dropped its opposition to the 'open sky'. I see a direct link there.
Notice BA was still opposing. Or was it going to receive concessions as well? Because:

After five years of fighting, Europe and the United States have tentatively agreed to allow their airlines to fly across the Atlantic to any city on the other side without restrictions, between any airport on one continent and any airport on the other continent.

[SN30952]

March22, 2007:
EU transport ministers have unanimously backed an "open skies" agreement.
What is the concession for the UK?

The agreement will come into effect from END of March 2008, and not from October 2007, meanwhile only BA, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and United Airlines are allowed to fly between Heathrow and America.

Britain dropped its Calimero objections and agreed the deal. 26-1.

Scoop:
EU airlines will then be allowed to fly from any city* in the 27 member states to any city in the United States and vice versa.
US airlines will then be allowed to fly from any city in the United States to any city in the 27 member states and vice versa.

That will then be presumably for the Summer 2008 Schedules.
*with an airport, I suppose.

[David747]

SN30952, I have to say, thanks for the information you have been providing. Now that there is an Agreement, the question is, will the domestic side of the issue here in the US allow this agreement to survive. That is the new question now.

[SN30952]

SN30952, I have to say, thanks for the information you have been providing. Now that there is an Agreement, the question is, will the domestic side of the issue here in the US allow this agreement to survive. That is the new question now.

My pleasure, David. We count on you to keep us updated on that, David747.

Details of the agreement will be soon available, I guess.

[CXRules]

Aer Lingus confirms US route plans following open skies boost

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... skies.html