Personally, I hope a deal can be put together, even if it doesn't include LHR.
The main sticking points appear to be:
- LHR access, which is admittedly a big issue
- Ownership; I believe the Americans are prepared to go up to 49%, a major concession, and
- Cabotage; the Europeans got a much better than anyone might have expected. That's as good as it's going to get: go with it.
Look at what European carriers are getting: unrestricted t/a access between Europe and the US (excluding LHR). It really is a major leap forward. What are the European carriers - and how many of them - objecting to?
From an Irish perspective, our own government is acting up over SNN again (although I suspect that much of that is drum beating ahead of the Euro elections), so as soon as the deal can be done, we get increased access and the SNN stop gets phased out, hopefully very quickly.
Time the deed was done!