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EU unanimously back open skies deal

Following on from our news item two days ago, today, the European Union has unanimously back the "open skies" deal between the United States and the European Union regarding travel across the atlantic. On the request of the UK, EU ministers have agreed to delay the date on which the deal takes affect from October 2007 to March 2008. Out of all the EU members voting, the UK was the only one rejecting the deal - citing that it did not go far enough on US airline ownership rights - which insist that any foreign (ie. non-US) company cannot own more than 25% of a US airline's voting rights. Those supporting the deal say that it will increase competition on the transatlantic routes, lowering the price for passengers. Across Europe, it will mean that any airline can fly to the US from any European airport - rather than stategic hubs such as Frankfurt or Heathrow. Virgin Atlantic have already announced they are looking to fly from Paris and Amsterdam to New York - a move that wasn't previous possibly prior to today's deal being signed.

Browse tags: #BA #AA #UA #US #LHR #AMS #EU #VS

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