AIRLINES are pinning their hopes on talks next Monday to break the deadlock between the UK and US over open skies.
The London talks between USand UKgovernment representatives are the first since a planned meeting was postponed in July (Travel Weekly July 12).
The main topic on October 18 will be cargo agreements, but passenger rights will also be on the agenda. USAirways executive vice-president Lawrence Nagin has been lobbying the Governments to reopen talks.
Speaking in London, Nagin said: “It is time for both governments to indicate to each other that they can get on with each other.
“This is an opportunity to jump-start open-skies talks.”
Nagin said a test of both governments’ commitment would be to allow USAirways to replace British Airways on the Gatwick-Pittsburgh route this winter. BA drops the service after 15 years on October 30.
US Airways also wants to launch transatlantic flights from Heathrow, along with British Midland, Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines. All are barred under the current bilateral deal.
Meanwhile, BA chief executive Bob Ayling has told US aviation representatives that the UK should have a special open-skies deal to state the importance of Heathrow to transatlantic travel.
He argued UK carriers must have access to key USairports before Heathrow can be opened up to all US airlines.