Let us not forget, however, that the EU is not a sovereign nation like the US. At best it is a loose conglomeration of trade partners, some of whom share the same currency. It is getting closer to single union sovereignity; and the combining of the ATC funtions and the regualtion of the skies is a step in the direction needed to be one nation.
Nonetheless, until you fire the Queens and Kings and become one sovereign nation. ALL having the same currency (Dump the Pound in favor of the Euro....YEAH that will happen) and laws; and ALL negotiate with ONE Federated voice, then true open skies will not happen.
The US should not open their borders to cabatoge unless and until Southwest or Jetblue is allowed to fly point to point in France, or point to point in Italy, or point to point in the UK.
The EU is NOT a sovereign nation. Flying between France and England is no different than flying between Montreal and Minneapolis. It is a different set of rules, freedoms, and treaties when you fly country to country.
My experience is that most Europeans don't understand the way the US is set up. They seem to think that flying between Florida and New York is the same as flying between Germany and England. This is not the case. The US is one sovereign Federated nation made up of many states but all of them governed by the Federal government.
So as soon as France and England can agree to let Spanish leaders make all of their National rules and regulations, as soon as the Queen of England abdicates in favor of....(whos running the EU now....is it Ireland?), and as soon as the Brits dump the Pound in favor of the Euro; then maybe we can negotiate an open skies agreement. Then it would be time to buy stock in Jet Blue and Southwest.
Last edited by Beaver Driver; 13th Feb 2004 at 15:52.