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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| BA and Virgin knock open sky deal | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have criticised a new "open skies" deal between the European Union and US that aims to open up their airline markets. | British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have criticised a new "open skies" deal between the European Union and US that aims to open up their airline markets. |
| British Airways said the deal was not good for UK aviation, while Virgin called it a missed opportunity. | |
| On Friday and after years of failed talks, the EU and US said that they had made decisive progress and managed to get the outline of a new agreement. | On Friday and after years of failed talks, the EU and US said that they had made decisive progress and managed to get the outline of a new agreement. |
| The transatlantic airline market is worth some $18bn (£9.3bn). | The transatlantic airline market is worth some $18bn (£9.3bn). |
| According to the EU, a new deal would boost transatlantic passenger numbers by 26 million, create 80,000 jobs, and provide 12bn euros (£8.1bn) of economic benefits. | According to the EU, a new deal would boost transatlantic passenger numbers by 26 million, create 80,000 jobs, and provide 12bn euros (£8.1bn) of economic benefits. |
| Fair balance? | Fair balance? |
| The worry for many critics is that the deal favours US carriers, and that companies such as British Airways and Virgin would have to give up valuable prime-time landing and take-off slots at Heathrow airport. | The worry for many critics is that the deal favours US carriers, and that companies such as British Airways and Virgin would have to give up valuable prime-time landing and take-off slots at Heathrow airport. |
| British Airways said it would be looking to lobby on the issue and would put forward its point of view that the deal "is not good for UK aviation". | British Airways said it would be looking to lobby on the issue and would put forward its point of view that the deal "is not good for UK aviation". |
| Steve Ridgway, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "We would love to see full and proper open skies but this draft agreement doesn't come near that." | Steve Ridgway, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "We would love to see full and proper open skies but this draft agreement doesn't come near that." |
| The open skies deal has proved difficult to finalise | The open skies deal has proved difficult to finalise |
| "This appears at first glance to be a missed opportunity to create a truly competitive transatlantic aviation market," he added. | "This appears at first glance to be a missed opportunity to create a truly competitive transatlantic aviation market," he added. |
| However, the UK's Independent newspaper quoted rival airline BMI as saying that the "open skies" agreement was a "major breakthrough". | However, the UK's Independent newspaper quoted rival airline BMI as saying that the "open skies" agreement was a "major breakthrough". |
| BMI has been lobbying for more access to Heathrow, and called on the UK government to support the draft proposal, the Independent reported. | BMI has been lobbying for more access to Heathrow, and called on the UK government to support the draft proposal, the Independent reported. |
| EU ministers will have to vote on the deal on 22 March. Should they approve the deal then it would be in place from 28 October. | EU ministers will have to vote on the deal on 22 March. Should they approve the deal then it would be in place from 28 October. |
| Finer details | Finer details |
| As part of the deal, European airlines would be allowed to make transatlantic flights from any nation and not just their home country. | As part of the deal, European airlines would be allowed to make transatlantic flights from any nation and not just their home country. |
| It would also open up Heathrow so that a greater number of airlines could land and take off from the London airport. | It would also open up Heathrow so that a greater number of airlines could land and take off from the London airport. |
| Ownership rights, which had proved controversial in earlier rounds of talks, would also be fine-tuned. | Ownership rights, which had proved controversial in earlier rounds of talks, would also be fine-tuned. |
| The US would still be able to prevent a foreign company from owning more than 25% of an American airline's voting rights. | The US would still be able to prevent a foreign company from owning more than 25% of an American airline's voting rights. |
| However, the deal would make it easier for EU companies to buy all of an airline's non-voting shares. At the same time, the EU would be able to restrict US investment in EU airlines. | However, the deal would make it easier for EU companies to buy all of an airline's non-voting shares. At the same time, the EU would be able to restrict US investment in EU airlines. |