MORE OPTIONS AND CHEAPER FARES?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Hope it has the desired results...

TRANS-ATLANTIC AVIATION PACT

EU Backs 'Open Skies' Deal with US

The drawn-out tug of war has come to an end: The European Union has reached an agreement with the United States on a groundbreaking 'Open Skies' aviation deal. Trans-Atlantic air travel may soon get a whole lot easier.

The European Union has reached an agreement with the United States on liberalizing trans-Atlantic aviation. EU transport ministers, meeting in Brussels on Thursday, unanimously backed an aviation agreement which would increase competition and reduce fares for millions of passengers. Experts predict that the "open skies" deal will lead to a rapid increase in the numbers of passengers flying across the Atlantic.

The deal will allow any EU airline to fly from any airport within the 27-nation bloc to any city in the United States and vice versa. Put simply, it would allow an airline like Ireland's Aer Lingus, which was previously restricted to four routes, to fly anywhere in the US. The new liberalization will affect more than half of the world's aviation. The European Commission claims that the deal will generate up to 25 million additional passengers, €12 billion ($16 billion) in consumer benefits and create 80,000 new jobs in Europe and the US.

"The deal is of great political and economic importance," Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said after the meeting. "The fact that everyone in the EU Council (of transport ministers) has been able to welcome the outcome is to be commended." He added: "I am delighted to have piloted this agreement to its destination with all passengers still on board."

Full Story

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

cool! ihope they can do something silimalr with canada and mexico. flights to mexico are expensive.

I have not looked into thisindustry, but i guess a lot has to do with treaties,,,emmm deals set up between countries. so maybe country x wants to protect its airlines and so they get away with charging sky high fares.

so, i am glad to see these kind of deals. lets hope it works out the way it is supposed to.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

could be good news