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Brussels, 10 March 2010

Negotiations on a second stage EU–US "Open Skies" agreement and existing first stage air services agreement — Frequently asked questions

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport, will present the current state of play with regard to negotiations on the second stage EU–US air transport agreement ("Open Skies") to transport ministers, meeting in Brussels, at the Transport Council on March 11 2010.

Current state of play

On March 30 2008, the first stage EU–US "Open-Skies" air services agreement came into effect, introducing new commercial freedoms for operators and an unprecedented framework for regulatory cooperation in the field of transatlantic aviation. The agreement replaced the individual agreements Member States had with the United States and removed all barriers for airlines of either side wishing to fly between and beyond Europe and the United States. For the first time, European airlines could operate from bases outside their licensing state, creating the opportunity, for example, for a German airline like Lufthansa to operate flights from Paris to New York.



Importantly, the first stage agreement also established a road-map for negotiations on further improvements to the agreement aimed at creating additional opportunities for both sides, particularly within each other's domestic markets, and deepening the already excellent level of cooperation on aviation issues of common interest. These negotiations on a second stage EU–US "Open Skies" agreement are currently ongoing.

On the negotiations on a second stage EU–US air transport agreement

What is currently under discussion?

The EU and US are currently negotiating a Second Stage Air Services Agreement aimed at building on the existing First Stage Air Services Agreement ("Open Skies"), which has been in place since 30 March 2008.

What are Europe's aims for the second stage negotiations?

Europe believes that the ground-breaking first stage agreement could be improved in a number of areas. In particular, the second stage agreement is a significant opportunity for both sides to normalise the rules on airline investment, thereby facilitating the ownership of European and US airlines by each other's investors. Furthermore, there remains the potential for a second stage agreement to further improve choice for consumers by further opening market access.

Separately, Europe sees this agreement as an opportunity to secure deeper regulatory cooperation on the broad range of issues faced by the transatlantic aviation sector, including safety, security, competition enforcement, and the environment.

When did these negotiations begin?


How advanced are the negotiations?

Considerable progress has been made in recent months, with tentative agreement on a wide range of items. A number of important issues remain outstanding, though Europe is confident that an agreement can be reached on these in 2010, consistent with the commitment made by both sides at the 2009 EU-US Summit that they would "aim to reach a second-stage air transport agreement in 2010 which includes benefits for both sides".

Why have the negotiations taken so long?

The issues for discussion in the second stage negotiations require careful consideration by both sides. Furthermore, there was a long break in the negotiations leading up to and continuing for a period after the US elections in November 2008. Consequently, the negotiations have taken some time.

What happens if no agreement is reached on a second stage agreement?

The provisions of the first stage agreement mean that, should no second stage agreement be reached by the end of November 2010, then both sides have the right to suspend certain rights under the existing agreement.

However, given the progress already made in the negotiations, Europe considers an agreement in 2010 to be the most likely outcome.

On the first stage EU–US air services agreement

When did the first stage agreement enter into force?





  • The possibility to continue flights beyond the United States towards third countries ('5th freedom').


  • So-called '7th freedom rights' for passenger flights between the US and a number of non-EU European countries, i.e. direct flights between the US and Croatia or Norway.




  • Possibility of antitrust immunity for the development of airline alliances.

  • Rights for EU investors in the area of ownership, investment and control of US airlines; rights in the area of inward foreign investment in EU airlines by non-EU European investors; rights in the area of ownership, investment and control by EU investors of airlines in Africa and non-EU European countries.

What has been the commercial effect of the first stage agreement?


In the first year following implementation of the agreement, the effect was considerable, with the total number of flights between the EU and the US in April–June 2008 8% higher than the same period in 2007.

Transatlantic services have increased particularly in those Member States where restrictive agreements were previously in place. In London Heathrow alone, flights to the US increased by 18 daily flights, an increase of more than 20%. Flights to the US from Spain and Ireland have also increased.




How will the EU and the US cooperate in regulatory issues?


The provisions on security are key towards a 'one-stop security' approach. The regulatory cooperation includes also provisions on EU–US technical cooperation in relation to climate change, on consumer protection and on the development of joint EU-US approaches in international organisations.

Are there concrete examples of this regulatory cooperation?


  • In the field of air traffic management and environmental protection, the European Commission and the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority have created the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE) partnership to improve the environmental footprint of air transport with environmentally friendly air traffic procedures from gate to gate.


How does the Commission monitor the implementation of the agreement?

The agreement establishes a new mechanism: The EU–US Joint Committee. This has already met a total of nine [9] times to oversee implementation of the agreement and ensure regulatory cooperation.

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