EU and US re-open airport access talks

European Union and United States officials met in Brussels today to relaunch stalled talks that would open up US airports to European carriers.

The negotiations are the last clear chance to make a breakthrough, said John Byerly, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for transport.

The EU has warned it will take legal action next year to end bilateral air services agreements between national governments and the US that EU courts ruled illegal in 2002.

EU airlines can currently only operate routes between their home countries and the US, which caps the number of airlines flying the trans-Atlantic route.