European governments may be asked to tear up air service agreements with the USA in a bid to speed up a European Union-US Open Skies deal. European Commission vice-president Loyola de Palacio, who led discussions in Washington DC last week, says she will not accept a four- or five-year delay. "We clearly diverge when it comes to ambition and a sense of urgency," she says. The USA is refusing to give ground on sensitive issues such as increased market access. De Palacio says this is difficult to understand "since FedEx and UPS aircraft fly around in Europe". She is keen to cement a deal before her term expires in November.
Source: Flight International
