Open Skies agreement "will open up transatlantic aviation market"

The Open Skies agreement will boost rivalry in the already-competitive transatlantic aviation market, one expert has predicted this week.

Virgin Atlantic made the claims about the new deal, which allows airlines to fly between any city in Europe and the US non-stop for the first time, providing more options for travellers.

"Virgin Atlantic has warned that the new entrants to the US [and] UK market will find existing Heathrow carriers are more than ready to do battle," said a spokesperson for the airline.

She added: "The transatlantic market is already one of the most competitive aviation markets in the world, and more competition will open up now phase one of the new Open Skies Agreement has come into effect."

The Open Skies deal was signed in Washington DC on April 30th 2007 and it came into force on March 30th 2008.

US and the European Union have come together for the agreement to permit EU and American airlines to fly between any destinations in the two regions.

Virgin Atlantic deals with over four million passengers each year and has over 29 jets flying to 20 destinations in Africa, Asia and North America.

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