Posted on 03/22/2007 4:59:28 AM PDT by Michael81Dus
European Union (EU) transport ministers have unanimously backed an "open skies" aviation deal with the US aimed at liberalising transatlantic air travel. The deal, which has been criticised by airlines in the UK, eases restrictions on travel between Europe and the US.
Supporters say open skies reform will boost competition between airlines and lead to lower air fares.
The deal will also challenge British Airways' dominance at Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest hub.
EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot described the deal as one of "great political and economic importance."
"The fact that everyone in the Council (of transport ministers) has been able to welcome the outcome is to be commended," he said.
Tough choices
The EU said consumers would see a total of up to $16bn (£8.1bn) in economic benefits as a result of the deal, as increased competition brings down air fares.
Under the open skies plan any EU-based airline will be allowed to fly from any city within the EU to any city in the US, and vice versa.
But while US airlines would gain free access to European airports, EU carriers would not be allowed the same rights on domestic routes within the US.
Paul Charles of Virgin Atlantic, said the deal did not go far enough.
"It doesn't enable full liberalisation, it doesn't open up US markets so that European and British carriers can operate from one city to another - that's where the British government should be pushing things today."
Negotiating the deal was a drawn-out, four-year process, and the breakthrough was only reached weeks ago.
Among the effects of the deal would be an increase in the number of airlines using London's busy Heathrow airport.
BA, Virgin, American Airlines and United Airlines currently dominate transatlantic services from Heathrow.
Maybe something for your ping list?
Ping.
Lower prices, too.
Easier to go abroad to get medical care and services, dentistry, and other services instead of paying for greedy american professionals.
Yes, but the prices are already falling. Depending on special offers, you can fly for 300 €/400 $ there and back, but the usual price is somewhat about 600 $.
It will be cheaper still.
I can imagine having surgery, getting extensive testing, dental, and cosmetic work will be dirt cheap compared to American pricing. I've heard of someone who had extensive dental work in Poland or one of the eastern countries and the work was excellent. ~And cost a fifth of what it would be here. Prescription meds, eyeglasses and exams, all of it could be done better. I don't enjoy financing a doctor's porsche when he gouges me for a 2 minutes office visit wherein I tell him what my dx is.
Retail shopping and a host of other things even with a dollar drop will be feasible.
It costs me some bucks to fly into NY for shopping. Cheaper than that and I can go to Europe.
I'm wondering if legal work could be outsourced like wills and title work, search work, things that don't demand court time?
All these things will happily bring down the absurd prices.
wow....all these positive comments for socialised medicine...I'm amazed :)
We get our consumer goods from a Communist state, why not socialized medicine and services? Prescription prices are just laughable here..
Those prices at the stores just drop when you use labor that costs less than a tenth of US labor, no benefits and no pesky regulations.
Why not do more for the US consumer? Cut the price on the services by making airfare so cheap it would be like hopping in a car to run to the convenience store.
Have the planes serviced elsewhere in the world as they are starting to do now. Much cheaper.
In fact, if Boeing moved to Mexico or elsewhere, engineering and fabrication would really drop.
It's all a win win situation.
As someone who lives in a state with socialised medicine I can tell you that it can work very well. They are particularly good at the routine distribution of minor (or indeed standard) medications.
The problem, of course, is that because it is "free" (it isnt actually, someone has to be paying for it all, but theoretically you aren't hit in the pocket every time you visit the docs) people tend to abuse the system.
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