Would Open Skies be good news or bad news for business travelers?
There is no simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to this question. There are numerous issues to consider, including the fact that some disagreements between the EU and US remain unresolved. Reduced state interference The theory is that reduced government interference in airlines’ commercial decisions will stimulate growth. Supporters point to previous successes in the liberalization of aviation. Fifteen EU states already have bilateral Open Skies agreements with the US and generally travelers have experienced more services and no unusual increases in fares. On the other hand, only four airlines are allowed to fly between the US and London Heathrow and this route costs more per km in business class than any other transatlantic route. Liberalization within the EU in the 1990s also proved successful, with increased competition leading to dramatic reductions in fares and a huge escalation in services. Heathrow Heathrow is crucial to Open Skies because it is the world’s busiest airport for internati
