EU-US sign open skies agreement

IN A milestone development for the airfreight industry, April 30 saw the signing and formalisation of an open skies agreement between the US and EU. EU Council president Wolfgang Tiefensee, quoted on ATW Online, said that Europe would be pressing for further steps to increase traffic rights and reduce restrictions on European ownership of airlines in the US. The agreement takes effect in 11 months time. “Air transport is an important facilitator of economic activity and an important contributor to the health of the global economy,” said Anton van der Lande, chair of the ICC Committee on Air Transport. “Greater liberalisation has become necessary to replace existing bilateral agreements, due to the rapidlychanging structure of the economy brought on by trade liberalisation, globalisation and ecommerce.” ICC’s Air Transport Commission brings together airlines, users, freight forwarders, insurers, pilots and airports, speaking for the entire air transport community worldwide.