DARREN SHANNON / WASHINGTON DC
Two sides reach some agreements on transatlantic air travel, but number of major issues have still to be resolved
The US government's chief negotiator is optimistic that open skies talks with the European Union will succeed in liberalising transatlantic air travel within five years. However, he notes that the two sides have yet to develop any tangible accord.
The USA is prepared to soften its stance on full implementation of open skies. "We could look at a comprehensive deal that will supersede current open skies or we could see a phased approach, or we could see something else," said US State Department deputy assistant secretary for transportation John Byerly on his return from the second official open skies staff meeting, held in Brussels on 9-11 December. But he notes that "no decision has been made", and says [the EU and USA] "are taking this one step at a time".
For those expecting protracted talks, such as those that failed to overhaul the Bermuda II accord between the USA and UK, Byerly says time is of the essence.
The two sides have already come to some agreement during their first two meetings. A tentative deal has been reached that lifts regulatory control on airline pricing. A "broad agreement" has been met on the definition of codesharing, and both sides agree in principle that ground-handling services should not be monopolised.
However, several problems remain. "London Heathrow [access] is a major issueÉit's a shame we have lived with it this long," says Byerly. "Yet, although Heathrow is front and centre, there are other issues. These include the Shannon [airport] condition in Ireland's [bilateral air accord], open skies in Spain, night flight restrictions, infrastructure and slot limits. We have to put these rights on paper and define how to use [them]," he says.
Byerly notes that cabotage and foreign ownership restrictions in the USA are being discussed, but not as heatedly as some have reported.
A European delegation is tentatively scheduled to visit Washington DC for a third staff meeting on 17 February. The two sides first met to discuss transatlantic open skies in October.
Source: Flight International
