HOPES of a quick deal on open skies to allow British Midland and more US carriers to launch transatlantic flights from Heathrow have been dashed again.
Talks, due to start in Washington tomorrow, have been postponed while UK negotiators come up with an offer to put to US officials.
The main stumbling block is believed to be the conditions the Government wants to put on the British Airways/American Airlines alliance at Heathrow. British Midland is hoping for an exemption from current bilateral rules, but a deal on open skies is considered essential to the airline being granted Heathrow-US rights.