Easier Flights Across the Atlantic

Trans-Atlantic travelers could be pleasantly surprised next week with the new ease and low cost of international travel, according to The New York Times. As of Sunday, a little-known rule requiring airlines to either begin or end their voyage in their home country, limiting the number of international airlines that could operate out of various airports, will be wiped from the books. In its place will be a long-overdue, more democratic way of running things – driven by market forces and consumer demand. Now, American and United, for instance, are the only U.S. based airlines authorized to serve Heathrow. Next week, Continental, Delta, and Northwest will be able to land at the airport – greatly simplifying connecting flights and inter-European travel.

What’s more, the new agreement will allow low-budget, “no-frills” airlines like Ireland’s Ryanair to offer flights from secondary European markets to American cities for as little as $20. Experts expect the change to open up the skies to unprecedented competition – allowing airlines to fly directly from small U.S. cities to major European hubs and vice versa. More routes means more choices which means, eventually, cheaper tickets. A 2002 study suggested an open-skies agreement would boost traffic by 10 percent, reducing airfares by 4 to 10 percent.

But, strategists warn not to get too excited just yet. Fuel prices continue to rise. And the depreciating dollar, dropping 12 percent against the euro in the last year, could soon lead to one of the worst American economic slumps since WWII. A survey completed by AIG Travel Guard reported that 47 percent of American travelers plan to downscale their vacations to save money.