From: Gary Britt 

I've often wondered what Adam's fascination with the A380 really is?
Perhaps the computer controls run on Linux.  That's about the only thing I
can think of.  

Gary

George Sherwood wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:21:08 +0000, Adam wrote:
>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/business/worldbusiness/03skies.html?
> _r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin
>> "Negotiators for the European Union and the United States reached a
>> preliminary agreement on Friday to all but eliminate restrictions on
>> trans-Atlantic air routes, a breakthrough in talks aimed at increasing
>> the number of flights and lowering fares.
>>
>> Europe� �s transport commissioner, Jacques Barrot, said the European
>> Commission had made � �decisive progress� � in talks with United States
>> negotiators in Brussels toward concluding a hard-fought � �open skies� �
>> agreement. Mr. Barrot said he intended to submit a draft proposal to
>> European transport ministers on March 22.
>>
>> In Washington, the deal needs Congressional approval before the rules
>> would take effect on Oct. 28.
>>
>> � �The open-aviation area could be a centerpiece for a reinvigorated
>> trans-Atlantic relationship,� � Mr. Barrot said.
>>
>> An accord would allow European airlines to fly into the United States
>> from anywhere in the bloc, which has 27 member nations, instead of from
>> just their home countries.
>>
>> At the same time, restrictions on United States airlines flying to
>> Europe would be loosened, effectively removing barriers that now grant
>> only two carriers � � American Airlines and Delta Air Lines � � the right to
>> fly into Heathrow Airport near London.
>>
>> The transportation secretary, Mary Peters, who announced the deal in
>> Washington, said it would offer more choice and convenience to
>> consumers. The trans-Atlantic market represents 60 percent of global air
>> traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association trade
>> group."
>>
>> Oh & rather humorously:
>>
>> "According to the official, the commission said the United States had
>> also agreed to drop rules that restrict the rights of European airlines
>> to buy into airlines in other non-European countries that have bilateral
>> aviation agreements with the United States.
>>
>> If a European airline buys, for example, an African carrier, the buyer
>> cannot now automatically acquire the right that the African carrier may
>> have to fly to the United States, because Washington would view it as a
>> European airline.
>>
>> The commission said the draft agreement would grant several other new
>> rights to European carriers, including the right to fly from the United
>> States to non-European countries and to have access to the � �Fly America� �
>> program for the transport of passengers and cargo financed by the United
>> States government."
>>
>> The last sentence is a classic.
>
> Wow! That is really searching for good news for the A380.  A little bit
> of a stretch here if you ask me.
>
> George
>

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