From: George Sherwood 

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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