Virgin Atlantic Ready For Open Skies Battle

Virgin Atlantic have sounded a warning to potential competitors that plan to run flights from the US to the UK that they are more than ready to meet the challenge now that the Open Skies Agreement has come into effect since the 30th of March.

The Open Skies Agreement eases the limitations that had been placed on any air travel operating from the EU to the US. As a result of the agreement any European aircraft can fly to the US from any location within the EU and does not have to operated from its country of origin which was the case prior to the Open Skies agreement. This works the other way round and now any US airline can fly to the EU.

Virgin Atlantic have commented that they feel that the Open Skies Agreement will increase competition within the transatlantic aviation sector which was already highly competitive prior to the Open Skies Agreement. It remains to be seen if the increase in competition will lower fares for passengers, however with the current rise in fuel costs coupled with increased charges at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports it seems unlikely that passengers will notice any significant gains anytime soon.

Images courtesy of kpmarek

Published by: Jon Vickery