EU president Germany optimistic on US air pact

Brussels, Mar 22: European Union president Germany voiced cautious optimism on Thursday that the bloc's transport ministers would back an agreement with the United States to liberalise transatlantic air travel.

''I am carefully optimistic that it's doable,'' German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told reporters on arrival for the decisive meeting.

He said he recognised the will of colleagues to come to an agreement and declined to comment on whether Britain would win any concessions for Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest hub, as part of a deal.

Italian Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi said he would express concerns about the pact in Thursday's talks but ministers would aim for a unanimous agreement.

The pact, agreed after four years of talks, would allow any EU airline to fly from any city in the 27-nation bloc to any city in the United States and vice versa. It is slated to enter into force in October.

Reuters