IACA "frustrated and disappointed" with second stage of EU/US open skies

International Air Carriers Association (IACA) stated (26-Mar-2010) it and its members are "frustrated and disappointed by the failure to agree a balanced deal for all airlines" under the second phase of the EU/US open skies agreement. According to IACA, European airlines "still remain significantly worse off" and the EU has been unsuccessful in negotiating equal traffic rights for EU and US airlines in each other's internal markets, through identical ownership and control possibilities. [more]

IACA: "Behind the face-saving rhetoric, the bare fact remains that this deal is completely one sided in favour of US airlines. The EU can gloss over the facts all they want, but yesterday's deal hasn't brought airlines any closer to a genuine open sky and provides no new opportunities for European carriers." IACA calls on both side to honour their commitments made at the start of the EU-US aviation talks in 2003. After all those years of trumpeting minor breakthroughs, it is really time to achieve a genuine open sky, with equal opportunities for both sides." Sylviane Lust, Director General. Source: IACA, 26-Mar-2010.