With negotiations between the EU Commission and US government on the liberalization of two largest air transport markets of the world under way, it is certainly interesting to heat ICAO`s opinion on this much awaited development. The proposed liberalized transatlantic market will relax ownership rules and allow both US and EU airlines to operate in the markets of the other area.

Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne of the Air Transport bureau has stated that ICAO promotes liberalization and will welcome any agreement US and EU may reach. It is up to the governments concerned to decide but any liberalization agreement is a positive thing.

The type of the agreement will depend, as Dr Abeyratne said, on the parties concerned; in the existing interests of all aviation players - that means airlines, airports, service providers - that will influence the accord package.