Open Skies Treaty

See also Wednesday-night.com

Airlines Cut Profit Outlook 10% on Fuel, U.S. Economy
By John Hughes and Andrea Rothman
April 1 (Bloomberg) — Airline profits worldwide will be 10 percent lower than the industry’s previous 2008 forecast as fuel costs rise and the U.S. economy slows, a trade group said.
Carriers will earn a collective net profit of $4.5 billion, down from the $5 billion predicted Dec. 12, the International Air Transport Association said today. The new outlook marks the third reduction in seven months by the Geneva-based group.
The rising price of fuel has led airlines to raise fares, damping demand. Carriers are also facing more competition on lucrative trans-Atlantic routes as a new U.S.-European Union treaty has expanded flying opportunities.
March 31
(BBC) Open skies deal comes into effect
The long-awaited “open skies” agreement between the US and European Union is coming into effect, aiming to open up trans-Atlantic air The deal ends limits on which airlines can fly between the US and EU, and it is expected to lead to a large rise in the number of carriers … However, changes at big airports such as Heathrow will be minimised by the limited availability of take-off slots.
March 30
Flight from D/FW marks lifting of limits on travel to Europe
(The Dallas Morning News) An American Airlines Inc. flight will kick off the new “Open Skies” era today when it takes off from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 5:20 p.m.

(Business Week) Open Skies Treaty Goes into Effect
The much-heralded EU-U.S. aviation liberalization deal will go into effect this weekend. Will cheaper airfares follow?
An EU-US deal liberalising the airlines market coming into force this weekend is expected to result in better choice for passengers and cheaper airfares.
The ‘Open Skies’ deal — starting Sunday (30 March) — ends most of the restrictions on airlines from the US and the EU operating between the two continents.
US airlines will now be free to fly both to airports in the European Union and from there to third destinations while European airlines will be able to fly to US airports and then on to other destinations.