The EU-US open skies agreement confirmed by the EU Transport Council agreed on Thursday is a big opportunity also for the Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways in the market of transatlantic flights, Transport Minister Janez Bozic said on the sidelines of the meeting in Brussels.
However, this cannot be achieved easily because of strong competition, he said, adding that he hoped Adria Airways would take the opportunity.
The agreement brings liberalisation of air traffic between the EU and US, allowing EU airlines to fly from any airport in the EU to any airport in the US and vice versa.
Until now airlines were only allowed to fly from their country of origin to selected US airports.
The open skies agreement would replace bilateral agreements between EU members and the US, which six countries, including Slovenia, did not have. It still needs a nod from the US and is expected to be signed on 30 April at the EU-US summit in Washington.
The transport ministers also agreed on a plan to prevent further delays in completing the EU Galileo satellite navigation system.
Bozic explained that by 10 May the consortium of eight companies tasked with constructing and managing the project has to set up a single operating structure and name a director which would speak on their behalf.
The main message to the consortium is that negotiations should be carried out fast so that the main points of the Galileo agreement would be agreed by September 2007, Bozic said.
The EU also has to select the location for the seat of the Galileo supervisory authority, also sought by Slovenia. With Galileo, which should start operating in 2011, the EU would gain independence from the US Global Positioning System.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|