EU transport ministers yesterday said they would back one more attempt by the European Commission to negotiate an open skies agreement with the US.
Last week, the US halted talks over what appears to be an unwillingness to loosen their restrictions on foreign ownership of US-based airlines.
Americans can buy up to 49% of European airlines, but Europeans can buy only a maximum of 25% of a US carrier.
The commission is to meet the US side in January, and may offer to do a deal without seeking changes to the ownership structure of airlines. That would be good news for Aer Lingus, which takes delivery of two new Airbus planes in March and wants to expand its flight schedule to North America.
Meanwhile the Department of Transport today announced the conclusion of negotiations on an 'open skies' agreement between Ireland and Singapore.
This agreement will come in to effect in 2007, and will allow Singapore and Irish carriers to fly directly to and from Singapore and Ireland.
