But Congress Has Concerns
When it came to soliciting support
for a controversial plan to ease restrictions on access to US and
European airports, it appears several US carriers were pretty
easily bought. In fact, it seems all it took was a single
word: "Heathrow."
Media reports state Continental Airlines, United Airlines and
Delta Air Lines have jumped on the bandwagon for the tentative
"Open Skies" deal announced earlier this month between the US and
the European Union. The swaying factor appears to be the
possibility those carriers would be able to begin flights into
London's Heathrow Airport... territory currently claimed almost
exclusively by British Airways, and codeshare partner American
Airlines. (United also flies a limited schedule into Heathrow.)
"The carrier is confident that the current US-EU agreement
establishes a fair opportunity for it to compete in all the
important markets in the EU," Continental representatives said in a
prepared statement, according to the Houston Chronicle.
As Aero-News reported, the
airline had expressed reservations over an earlier proposal, which
would have cleared the way for Virgin America to begin US
flights.
Not everyone is jumping on the Open Skies bandwagon, however.
The Air Line Pilots Association -- union for most pilots flying for
US carriers -- said this week it opposes the plan, due to
ambiguities over rules governing foreign ownership of US
carriers.
"The lack of clarity sets the stage to allow greater foreign
control of US airlines and prompts serious concern about its effect
on U.S. jobs in the airline industry," said ALPA president Captain
John Prater.
Several members of the House of Representatives have also
expressed concern over the 'ambiguity' of foreign ownership rules.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, wrote a letter this week to
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters to that effect.
"Without further assurance that the law ... on foreign control
of US airlines will not be changed, we cannot support the
agreement," the letter said, reports The Associated Press.
Representatives Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
also signed the letter.
The Open Skies agreement, as currently written, would allow US
airlines to fly from anywhere in the US to any point within the EU,
and vice-versa. Rules governing how much airlines may charge on
those flights would also be relaxed -- a move airlines say would
lead to lower fares, although critics fear that rule might have the
opposite effect.
Transportation ministers in the EU are scheduled to meet to
decide on the plan March 22.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.02.24)
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