AN open-skies deal between the UK and US governments is the only way for airlines to gain access to Heathrow, claimed United Airlines chairman and chief executive Gerry Greenwald.
He said he did not see the recent ruling that slots could be traded as helping airlines gain access to Heathrow.
United has stated that there should be talks soon to resolve the issue, but Greenwald said the onus was on the UK to allow full competition at Heathrow.
“There should not be one step forward until there is open skies,” said Greenwald.
“The UK is the most protected. This is strange as the UK believes in free trade for everything else.”
Greenwald added that British Airways and Oneworld partner American Airlines should be excluded from any deals to buy and sell Heathrow slots.
Greenwald claimed BAand American’s existing slot holding at Heathrow already made them a powerful force and if they were allowed to trade slots they would be able to outbid other carriers and become even more powerful.
“If they (BAand American) bid for slots it just becomes a hoax,” he said.
United and its partners have called on the European Union to review the open-skies situation. But it is demanding that one policy is adopted for all countries and airlines to ensure fair competition.