Open Skies Agreement 'Will Boost Transatlantic Aviation Markets '

The Open Skies agreement will open up competition in the transatlantic aviation market, says on expert.

Virgin Atlantic made the claim about the agreement, which allows airlines to fly between any city in Europe and the US non-stop for the first time.

A spokesperson for the airline said: "Virgin Atlantic has warned that the new entrants to the US [and] UK market will find existing Heathrow carriers are more than ready to do battle.

"The transatlantic market is already one of the most competitive aviation markets in the world, and more competition will open up now phase one of the new Open Skies Agreement has come into effect."

Having been signed in Washington DC on April 30th 2007, the agreement came into force on March 30th 2008.

It is a deal between the US and the European Union, which allows any EU or American airline to fly between any point in the two regions.

Airlines will also be permitted to fly directly between the US and non-EU destinations, such as Switzerland.

Destinations News posted on 03/04/2008 08:08:03