Silverjet: Open skies would mean lower fares
March 20, 2007The chief executive of business class airline Silverjet has called on the government to back the "open skies" agreement between the US and the EU, saying it would bring benefits for passengers.
In an open letter to the transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, Lawrence Hunt said that the deal would see consumers benefiting from a "greater choice of airports for transatlantic travel, carriers and cheaper fares".
The deal would open the transatlantic skies to allow all European carriers to fly to any airport in the US without pricing or capacity restrictions, and vice versa.
At the present time, Silverjet only flies from London Luton Airport to New York Newark, offering business class only. However, a new deal could give it access to Heathrow and enable it to attract business passengers to London's premier airport.
Hunt also said that Silverjet has identified around 51 further potential routes in the European Common Aviation Area from which it could fly should the agreement go ahead.
"It is imperative that you [Alexander] and the rest of your cabinet colleagues do your utmost to ensure the implementation of a fully competitive market on all routes in all markets between the United States and Europe immediately," he concluded.
Yesterday (March 19) it emerged that Tony Blair may intervene in the open skies deal in order to give British Airways and Virgin Atlantic more time to adapt to it.
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