Open Skies needs more, says BA

British Airways has complained that insufficient progress is being made in freeing up European-US aviation.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said the current Open Skies agreement was not nearly extensive enough, reports ABTN.co.uk.

Talking at the Route Leaders Forum in Stockholm yesterday morning (September 24), he said: "The deal we should aspire to is the one that removes ownership and control restrictions that prevent us from genuinely competing with one another.

"It's a pity that it has taken so long for two parties that want to have an agreement with each other about competition. There is a lot to do to have a genuinely free market."

Walsh stressed BA was determined to capitalise on the new revenue opportunities offered by the liberalising of European-US aviation.

"There was outrage in the US that BA should seek to take advantage of the Open Skies agreement, but we intend to take advantage of it," he commented.

"We will push as far as we can."

Former Olympic Airways boss Rigas Doganis criticized Walsh for expecting too much from Open Skies.

© Adfero Ltd