Open Skies: Reazioni delle compagnie...

[glk11]

Ho trovato la reazione della United alla notizia sull'ufficializzazione dell'accordo per gli Open Skies.
Questo mi ha dato lo spunto per aprire un nuovo tema, magari raccogliendo altre dichiarazioni ufficiali di altre compagnie, in modo da poter proporre una discussione basata su più opinioni, ufficiali e nostre.
Sentitevi liberi dunque di aggiungerne tante quante ne volete...

UNITED AIRLINES

CHICAGO, March 22, 2007 -- UAL Corporation’s (NASDAQ: UAUA) Chairman, President and Chief Executive, Glenn Tilton, responds to the Open Skies decision.


“United has long been a proponent of Open Skies and looks forward to increased competition. This agreement represents a significant step toward much needed global deregulation. Open markets create new opportunities for United and will benefit consumers on both sides of the Atlantic"

[SQpps]

tu mi sfidi... domani te intaso il thread!!!

[glk11]

BRITISH AIRWAYS

British Airways has called on the UK government to stand by its right of automatic termination of traffic rights granted in the new air treaty endorsed today between the EU and US if America drags its feet on negotiating further liberalisation.
Access to Heathrow for US airlines is at the heart of the new aviation pact signed by European Union Transport Ministers today in Brussels.
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said, "The EU is naïve to believe the US will deliver on the next stage of liberalisation without sanctions so we are pleased the UK government has recognised this and demanded an automatic termination clause. However, the five month delay before implementation is unnecessary.
"With the EU having given away their most valuable negotiating asset - Heathrow - the UK government must stand by its pledge to withdraw traffic rights if the US does not deliver further liberalisation by 2010. Nothing short of an Open Aviation Area by 2010 will be acceptable and we want talks on the second stage to achieve this to start immediately.
"This means delivering a true Open Aviation Area under which airlines from both sides would have free access to each others' market without restrictions and where it will be possible for a US airline to be 100% owned by investors from the EU and vice versa.
"A genuine liberalisation such as this would deliver huge benefits for customers.
"It is disappointing that the EU has missed the opportunity to achieve these long term gains for customers. Instead, this deal will deliver short term gains for the subsidised American aviation industry.
"So far the US has made no meaningful concessions. American carriers can now fly into Heathrow, Europe and beyond while their own backyard remains a no go area for EU carriers and foreign ownership of their airlines remains unchanged.
"We will hold the Government to its word to fight for Britain's interests if America doesn't play ball. Though this is a poor agreement for Britain and Europe, we are ready to exploit the new opportunities this agreement gives us for our customers and our business. Our priority will be to move the Gatwick services to Heathrow that have most connecting traffic, such as the Houston route which serves the oil markets and give our customers the best possible connections."


BA si prepara quindi a muovere importanti destinazioni lungo raggio da LGW a LHR. Oltre Houston, già servita da LHR via Detroit (ex Chicago), immagino a breve l'annuncio anche per Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta e magari qualche caraibica come Kingston.

[glk11]

DELTA

ATLANTA, March 21, 2007 – On the eve of the EU Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, Delta urges the EU Council to approve the tentative agreement reached earlier this month between U.S. government and EU negotiators to create a fully deregulated trans-Atlantic marketplace that will benefit customers.
“Delta has supported a liberalized U.S.-EU agreement from its inception because it ultimately benefits the millions of trans-Atlantic customers who travel between the United States and Europe annually,” said Jerry Grinstein, Delta’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are encouraged that a landmark deal is close to conclusion that will welcome a new era of trans-Atlantic travel allowing for a fully deregulated marketplace and opportunity for competition to grow and thrive.“
The U.S.-EU market is the leading market in terms of world air travel. In the year ending 2006, Delta, the largest U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, carried more than 5 million passengers between the United States and Europe. However, the absence of a fully liberalized bilateral agreement has limited competitive flights between the two continents, including restricting Delta from access to London’s Heathrow airport, which prevents flights between Atlanta, the world’s largest airline hub and Heathrow, the world’s leading international airport.
“A key focus for Delta has been to obtain meaningful access to London’s Heathrow International Airport,” Grinstein added. “We welcome an agreement that will guarantee Delta and our SkyTeam partners the ability to participate more broadly in European markets, particularly London's Heathrow airport. Delta trusts that the EU Transport Ministers will see the benefits of this agreement for both EU countries and the United States, and we look forward to ratification of this agreement and the expeditious beginning of what we anticipate will be productive second stage talks.”
Delta is committed to growing its international presence to provide customers with new flights to wherever they want to travel, whenever they want to travel. A liberalized air services agreement would bring immediate benefits to travelers, cargo shippers and carriers in the U.S.–EU market by creating new opportunities for more convenient and competitive service between the two continents.

[glk11]

CONTINENTAL



HOUSTON, March 15, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) said today that it fully supports the recently announced open skies agreement between the U.S. and the E.U. The airline has always favored open skies treaties, as long as they create a level, competitive playing field. The carrier is confident that the current U.S. - E.U. agreement establishes a fair opportunity for it to compete in all the important markets in the E.U. If the open skies agreement is approved, Continental will apply for blanket open skies authority to serve all the E.U. countries.
Continental, FORTUNE magazine's 2007 Most Admired Global airline, says that the open skies agreement will be good for consumers. "We think this agreement will foster trade, be beneficial to consumers and allow Continental to better serve its customers," said Continental Airlines CEO Larry Kellner.
Continental serves 28 trans-Atlantic destinations, most of which are in the European Union.
SOURCE Continental Airlines

...PRIMO PASSO COME OVVIO LHR


HOUSTON, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) applauded today's approval of an open skies agreement between the U.S. and the European Union which will provide Continental with flights access to London's Heathrow Airport for the first time. Upon news of the European Commission vote, Continental immediately filed an amended application at the U.S. Department of Transportation for rights to serve new routes to Europe once the open skies agreement takes effect.
Continental, which by the end of 2007 will operate to 30 destinations across the Atlantic from its U.S. hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland, plans to inaugurate service from its Houston hub to London/Heathrow before summer 2008, subject to government approval and the airline obtaining necessary slots and facilities at Heathrow Airport.
As it expands into Heathrow, the airline will retain service to London/Gatwick currently offered from the airline's three U.S. hubs.
"Our customers have always wanted more options for accessing London, and the open skies agreement will allow us to give our customers the convenience of choosing between Heathrow and Gatwick for their London travel plans," said Larry Kellner, Chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines.
Additionally, Continental has previously announced service between the airline's New York area hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Athens, Greece and Mumbai, India, both scheduled to start in 2007.
In addition to new Houston-Heathrow service in 2008, Continental has also announced that it will inaugurate service to Paris in 2008 from the airline's hub at Cleveland where it operates seasonal service to London/Gatwick. The airline is working with the City of Cleveland to establish the necessary facilities at Hopkins International Airport in time for the launch of the Paris route. Under the SkyTeam alliance, passengers on the Continental flight to Paris will make convenient connections to other points around the world on Air France flights from its Paris hub.

Ho idea che di questo passo LHR andrà verso un congestionamento totale, specie al mattino

[SQpps]

penso ke il ruolo fondamentale lo giocheranno gli slot...

[glk11]

AIR FRANCE


Le Conseil des ministres de l´Union européenne du 22 mars a approuvé à l´unanimité l´accord aérien intervenu le 2 mars dernier entre les négociateurs européens et américains. Cet accord sera signé le 30 avril prochain lors du sommet entre l´Union européenne et les Etats-Unis.


L´accord va permettre d´offrir plus de choix aux passagers. Il ouvrira de nouvelles perspectives aux compagnies et à leurs salariés. Les compagnies aériennes européennes et américaines disposeront désormais d´un accès à l´ensemble des marchés entre l´Union européenne et les Etats-Unis et les régions devraient notamment être amenées à en bénéficier..


AIR FRANCE et KLM seront ainsi en mesure de développer le réseau de l´alliance SkyTeam et de proposer à la clientèle de nouvelles lignes sur l´axe transatlantique.


Cet accord étant de nature à renforcer la concurrence entre transporteurs américains et européens sur l´Atlantique Nord , les autorités européennes et américaines devraient être en mesure d´autoriser une plus grande intégration commerciale au sein des alliances aériennes. Cela devrait profiter aux grandes alliances comme SkyTeam, qui sera alors en mesure d´assurer à sa clientèle un service homogène dans le monde entier.


AIR FRANCE et KLM se sont toujours montrés favorables au principe d´un tel accord dans la mesure où il va permettre notamment aux compagnies européennes et américaines d´évoluer dans un cadre réglementaire stable et cohérent. Cet accord se substituera en effet aux accords bilatéraux dits de " ciel ouvert " signés par la majorité des Etats membres de l´Union européenne avec les Etats-Unis et dont la Cour européenne de Justice avait jugé que certaines dispositions étaient contraires au droit communautaire.


L´accord aérien approuvé aujourd´hui constitue enfin une reconnaissance, par le principal partenaire commercial de l´Union européenne, du concept de compagnie aérienne communautaire.

AIR FRANCE KLM, premier groupe européen de transport aérien, exprime donc sa grande satisfaction après cette étape importante et souhaite que le processus de mise en oeuvre et d´approfondissement de cette première phase soit mené à bien rapidement pour achever la création d´un espace aérien totalement libéralisé et harmonisé.

[Tocky]

Rivoluzione nei cieli dell’Atlantico


Il via libera al progetto ‘Opensky’ farò scendere in picchiata le attuali tariffe






Lo scontento resta, perché l’accordo è ancora squilibrato a favore degli Usa. Ma intanto il via libera ai "cieli aperti" tra America e Vecchio Continente, sottoscritto dai ministri dei trasporti dell’Europa dei 27, promette di far scendere in picchiata le tariffe dei voli transatlantici. Facendo impennare i passeggeri che entro cinque anni potrebbero aumentare del 50%, con ricadute positive sia in termini di occupati, che dovrebbero beneficiare di 80.000 nuovi posti di lavoro, che di giro d’affari, stimato in crescita per 12 miliardi di euro. L’accordo, che sarà definitivamente approvato il 30 aprile a Washington, entrerà in vigore il prossimo anno. Ma la corsa agli investimenti è già partita. Sia in Europa che in Usa. La più preoccupata appare la British Airways, che con la Virgin Atlantic perderà il monopolio che al momento detiene con le compagnie americane American Airlines e United Airlines sui voli transatlantici da e per LondraHeathrow, il più grande hub europeo, scalo di grande smistamento intercontinentale. La compagnia di linea britannica è scontenta soprattutto perché "l'accordo vieta alle compagnie europee di servire i collegamenti tra le città americane". Con l’accordo Opensky, Delta Airlines e Continental, dalle loro basi di New York, faranno per la prima volta scalo a Heathrow. La concorrenza fa prevedere un boom dei voli intercontinentali a partire dalla primavera del prossimo anno, quando sarà aperto il nuovo terminal 5 che consentirà di accogliere aeromobili più capienti, più adeguati al lungo raggio, destinati a rimpiazzare parte dei più piccoli jet destinati al traffico interno all’Europa. Avery Christopher, analista di JpMorgan, uno dei più attenti osservatori del settore, prevede una caduta a due cifre dei costi dei biglietti in business class sulla linea New YorkLondra. Ma l’impatto si farà sentire anche sulla classe economica.
La caduta dei prezzi favorirà in prima battuta le compagnie low cost, che per il loro modello di business sono abituate a far quadrare i bilanci con i biglietti a prezzi stracciati. L’annuncio di Ryanair di avviare una linea transatlantica non giunge a sorpresa. E la compagnia low cost offrirà anche posti business. E se Londra è il più grande scalo europeo per le discount, saranno però gli scali irlandesi a giocare un ruolo chiave. «L’Irlanda si trova nella posizione più favorevole dal punto di vista geografico per i voli da e verso gli Stati Uniti», racconta Oliviero Baccelli, vicedirettore del Certet dell’Università Bocconi, osservatorio privilegiato per fiutare in anticipo i trend del settore, sia dal punto industriale che finanziario. Spiega Baccelli: «La vicinanza agli Usa offre uno dei vantaggi fondamentali per le compagnie low cost, l’alta rotazione degli aeromobili. Su rotte che richiedono in media 12 ore non riesci a fare due giri al giorno. Da Shannon e Dublino e la costa orientale degli Usa, con 67 ore di volo e sfruttando i fusi riesci a fare due giri al giorno. Di questo vantaggio possono beneficiare tutte le compagnie, in linea teorica. Il problema è che questo volo va inserito in una logica più ampia di alleanze che ti può garantire di riempire il volo, per renderlo veramente profittevole. Va messo in conto che già oggi il 10% dei passeggeri Ryanair approfitta della capillarità di penetrazione delle rotte per organizzare voli a doppio scalo con la Ryanair. Spesso devono aspettare diverse ore. Ma quando questo flusso sarà organizzato, anche verso altre mete, non solo gli Usa, assisteremo a una nuova rivoluzione dei cieli».
La Iaca, International Air Carrier Association, che riunisce i vettori europei, continua però a dare battaglia: per ottenere l’accesso al mercato interno Usa, ancora negato, e per avere il controllo fino al 100% dei vettori americani.
(p.jad.)

Affari&Finanza

[Kenadams]

Sono proprio curioso di vedere il casino che scoppierà a LHR. Vero che presto avranno il terminal 5, ma le piste rimarranno due. Già ora sono appena sufficienti, non vedo grandi margini di crescita del traffico. Sento già, invece, i controllori di volo: "Speedbird 118, LHR can't take you at this time. Hold at YAHOO intersection as posted. Maintain FL210, time is now 1125, expect clearance at 1205..."

[Steman]

Il fatto che i cieli saranno aperti non significhera' che a LHR potra' arrivare chiunque. Gli slot sono quelli che sono. Se ci saranno aumenti di voli questi avverranno tramite scambi di slot tra compagnie (bmi-BA per esempio) o in fasce orarie in cui c'e' ancora spazio, di notte per esempio.

Ciao

Stefano