Open Skies Benefits

In response to the surge in fuel prices over the past few years, Air Bus and Boeing are building more efficient aircraft, especially for long-haul international flights. Those new planes should enter the marketplace in 2010. It will be interesting to see how that development combines with the unfolding Open Skies Agreement of 2008, which in theory allows airlines within the jurisdictions of the European Union or the U.S. to connect with any airport in two jurisdictions. Naturally, it doesn't necessarily make economic sense to connect just any two random airports. But the agreement could open the door to better options in medium-sized air hubs. With these new options available, and more fuel-efficient planes, let's see if the price of seats will fall for many trans-Atlantic trips in 2010.