U.S., E.U Reach Open Skies Agreement

chucky

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Sep 13, 2006
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U.S., EU Reach Open Skies Agreement
Friday March 2, 3:12 pm ET
By Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Business Writer
U.S., EU Reach Tentative Agreement That Would Give Carriers Greater Freedom to Choose Routes


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. and European Union have reached a tentative agreement that would give airlines greater freedom to choose trans-Atlantic routes and potentially lead to lower fares, the government announced Friday.

Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said the agreement "will offer more choice and convenience to American consumers."

While details of the pact were not released, it is intended to allow European airlines to fly from anywhere in the EU to any point in the U.S., and vice versa, while shedding rules that restrict how much carriers are allowed to charge fliers.

EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said he would ask EU nations to back the deal when EU transport ministers meet March 22. The U.S. Congress must also back the deal before the new rules would kick in Oct. 28.

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