Originally posted by news.com.au
AIRLINES will be free to fly as often as they want between Australia and the United Kingdom under a new deal announced today.
Transport Minister Warren Truss said under the agreement there would be no limit for Australian or British passenger or cargo airlines on flights between the two countries. There would also be no limits on code-sharing arrangements.
"This new agreement is an important step in meeting both countries' commitment to a fully-open aviation environment," he said.
"Australian and UK carriers can now freely determine the number of services operated between our two countries."
Previously there had been a limit of 28 services per week for Qantas flights into the UK. British Airways operates 14 services a week, while Virgin Atlantic operates seven.
There had also been a ban on Australian airlines flying to the UK via China, Japan and the US or any services beyond Britain, other than to three points in Europe. Under the new agreement, the ban on going via China or the US will remain.
However, the ban on points beyond Europe will go.
Mr Truss said Australian airlines now had much more flexibility to serve European markets.
"This is a major step forward towards a fully-liberalised open skies agreement between Australia and the UK," he said.
"Both parties have agreed that we should continue to work together towards a fully-open aviation market, either bilaterally or as part of a comprehensive air services agreement between Australia and the European Union."
The new agreement comes into operation immediately.
