From todays travel section in the NY Post

A HISTORIC AGREEMENT MEANS FLYING TO EUROPE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. OR NOT.

By ANDREA BENNETT

March 11, 2008 -- IN January, the United States and European Union sat down at the table and hammered out a new agreement, changing the rules on how airlines may operate between the two. Called ';Open Skies,'; it takes effect on March 30. But what does it all mean?

THE CHANGES

In the past, bilateral agreements have dictated that European Union carriers may only operate nonstop services from their home country.

From March 30, they may do so from any European country, to any American airport of their choosing. United States airlines may also fly wherever they want. Both can charge whatever they want, as well.

(Phase Two, set for 2010, would let EU countries own and operate US airlines. Perhaps they%26#39;d have a better time keeping them out of bankruptcy, but that, friends, is another story for another time.)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

Well, the possibility of fewer connections, for one thing. The agreement allows for any combo; in theory, Alitalia could operate a historic new route between Helsinki and Boise if it felt like it.

Perhaps most importantly, the agreement ends another agreement that limits the use of Heathrow for transatlantic flights to British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, and American Airlines.

What you won%26#39;t see: European airlines flying between two US airports - that%26#39;s still verboten.

WHERE CAN I GO?

Expect to see plenty of routes over the coming year. British Airways got so excited, it is launching an airline called OpenSkies.

BA expects to fly daily between New York and Paris or Brussels beginning in June, adding six more routes throughout the year - none of which will stop in London.

Air France will start a new Los Angeles to London route. KLM will fly from Dallas to Amsterdam, starting March 30. Detroit gets a new Heathrow flight from Northwest this spring, which is also planning daily Heathrow flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle.

Aer Lingus got a little jump on the agreement through an arrangement between the Irish and US governments, and launched service from Dublin to Washington, DC, Orlando, and San Francisco.

DOES IT MEAN I%26#39;LL PAY LESS?

From todays travel section in the NY Post

Very cool. Will be a big help for those who don%26#39;t live in major US cities to get to Europe.

From todays travel section in the NY Post

I see good... I see bad! I hate to see bad when it comes to being able to travel this wonderful globe of ours!

It%26#39;s difficult to predict what this means until one sees what the airlines do.

Any policy that let%26#39;s me bypass that hellhole Heathrow is a welcome policy ;-)

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