The European Union and the United States this week signed the Open Skies deal that promises to usher in cheaper air fares for transatlantic travellers.
Designed to allow European and American airlines to operate services on any route between the US and Europe, the deal was finally signed on Monday, April 30 after many months of discussion.
EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said that the deal would shake up transatlantic aviation and bring about lower ticket pricing.
“Already, the European airline industry is feeling its effects in a positive way, with plans for new services and signs of a much more flexible and dynamic approach to airline investment among European carriers,” he said.
Major airlines are already giving indications of future services. Nigel Turner, the chief executive of bmi, told Reuters that the deal would help the company develop a more extensive medium- and long-haul route network, although he declined to name specific destinations.
Bmi will increase its long-distance flights from Heathrow but Turner stressed that this wouldn’t lead to it cutting back its domestic services.
Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus has also hinted that it will begin flights to US destinations such as Orlando when the Open Skies pact takes effect in March 2008 (see related Cheapflights story).
