AIRLINES

6 EU Nations Side With U.S. in ‘Open Skies’ Deal: Braving the threat of lawsuits, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Denmark sided with the United States and snubbed their own executive commission to continue talks on “open skies” agreements. European Union Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock said U.S. airlines will gain greater access in the 15-nation EU than what is offered in return, arguing that bilateral deals would give “aggressive and predatory” U.S. carriers the opportunity to wreak havoc among smaller EU airlines. Kinnock said if the six member states don’t agree that the Commission will negotiate on their behalf in the future, they will face court proceedings.