Da Flight International riporto le prese di posizione di alcuni soggetti interessati.
Airlines give mixed reaction to open skies agreement
By Graham Dunn
European Union (EU) transport ministers have reached agreement on an open skies deal with the USA at a meeting in Brussels today.
A spokeswoman for the European Council of Ministers confirms an agreement has been reached, but could not provide further details.
Ministers are reported to have agreed to push the start date of the agreement back from October this year to March next year.
Reaction so far has been mixed with British Airways claiming the deal is “a poor agreement for Britain and Europe”, while the Association of European Airlines says it is “good news for passengers”.
EU ministers met today to discuss the preliminary deal reached by US and European Commission negotiators at the start of the month.
UK transport minister Douglas Alexander had previously said the deal falls short of providing the level of access to the US market that European carriers are seeking, but also cited serious consequences if the UK rejected the proposal.
BA strikes out at open skies pact, urges rapid progress
By Victoria Moores
British Airways (BA) has struck out at today’s open skies deal, labelling the five-month delay as unnecessary and pressing the UK Government to implement sanctions against the US if it fails to rapidly progress to the next stage.
European Union (EU) transport ministers reached agreement on an open skies deal with the USA at a meeting in Brussels today, supporting a preliminary agreement reached by negotiators earlier this month.
BA says that the deal is “a poor agreement for Britain and Europe”. It is urging the UK Government to exercise its right to automatically terminate traffic rights – which the Oneworld carrier says is a provision of the new air treaty – if the US drags its feet on negotiating further liberalisation.
But the Oneworld carrier is planning to act on the development by shifting some of its connection-rich Gatwick-originating services to Heathrow, such as its Houston route.
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh says: “The EU is naïve to believe the US will deliver on the next stage of liberalisation without sanctions, so we are pleased the UK Government has recognised this and demanded an automatic termination clause. However, the five month delay before implementation is unnecessary.
“With the EU having given away their most valuable negotiating asset - Heathrow - the UK government must stand by its pledge to withdraw traffic rights if the US does not deliver further liberalisation by 2010.
“Nothing short of an Open Aviation Area by 2010 will be acceptable and we want talks on the second stage to achieve this to start immediately.”
The carrier is calling for free market access on both sides, without restrictions, which would enable carriers to be fully owned by investors from either continent.
Walsh says: “A genuine liberalisation such as this would deliver huge benefits for customers. It is disappointing that the EU has missed the opportunity to achieve these long term gains for customers. Instead, this deal will deliver short term gains for the subsidised American aviation industry.
“So far the US has made no meaningful concessions. American carriers can now fly into Heathrow, Europe and beyond while their own backyard remains a no go area for EU carriers and foreign ownership of their airlines remains unchanged.
“We will hold the Government to its word to fight for Britain’s interests if America doesn’t play ball. Though this is a poor agreement for Britain and Europe, we are ready to exploit the new opportunities this agreement gives us for our customers and our business.
“Our priority will be to move the Gatwick services to Heathrow that have most connecting traffic, such as the Houston route which serves the oil markets and give our customers the best possible connections.”
Aer Lingus confirms US route plans following open skies boost
By Graham Dunn
Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus has announced plans to start services from Dublin to San Francisco, Orlando and Washington Dulles by the year end following today’s agreement by European Union transport ministers backing an open skies agreement between Europe and the USA.
Aer Lingus currently operates to four destinations in the US and has long sought the lifting of restrictions to expand its presence in the US market. The Irish carrier secured access to an additional three US gateways cities as part of a 2005 deal with the US related to wider open skies.
Aer Lingus CEO Dermot Mannion says: “Aer Lingus has waited a long time for this momentous day and to be able to fully exploit the potential to significantly grow long haul traffic between Ireland and the US. We are taking delivery of two new A330 long haul aircraft this summer and, with the proceeds of the IPO, are financially resourced and strongly positioned to start three new long haul routes to the US before the end of the year.
“Finally, Aer Lingus can offer the increased choice of US destinations that our customers want and that will contribute to the continued growth of Aer Lingus as a profitable and independent company.”
AEA welcomes open skies agreement as important first step
By Victoria Moores
Today’s agreement reached by European Union (EU) ministers on an open skies deal with the USA has been welcomed by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), which says it is “good news for passengers”.
EU transport ministers today reached an agreement on the draft open skies accord forged with the USA on 2 March, details of which are expected to be released shortly.
“This is a step in the right direction,” says AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, although he adds that the immediate commercial advantages for airlines are difficult to assess at this stage.
“The agreement establishes a framework which includes, but goes beyond, market opportunities,” notes Schulte-Strathaus. “A joint EU/US committee will be created to harmonise standards between the European Union and the United States.”
AEA stresses that the agreement is “only a first step” towards the goal of achieving “a true EU-US open aviation area”. It adds: “The second stage, as set forward in the agreement, gives both parties the means to negotiate further liberalisation and eventually achieve the sort of framework this mature and competitive industry needs.”
