Reuters reports that according to the EU Council’s legal service, the Open Skies vote must be unanimously backed by all 27 EU member states. While the EU decides on transport issues by qualified majority voting, the open skies agreement is a ‘mixed agreement’ involving the competences of both the Union and the member state…thus requiring a total consensus.
The United Kingdom is likely alone in its announcement to block the deal. The Open Skies agreement would open up Heathrow, currently limited to four carriers for US service. British Airways is very critical of the deal as it would unseat them from a privileged position at the airport. However other British carriers could benefit.
