France, U.S. Reach Air Agreement
<H1>France, U.S. Reach Air Agreement</H1><H3>by Barbara Cook</H3>The U.S. and France have resolved an aviation dispute that threatened to escalate into mutual retaliation against the airlines of both countries. As part of the settlement, the French will allow a U.S. carrier to fly a Boston-Paris route.
USAir immediately said it will apply for rights to operate the Boston-Paris route, which has been without a U.S. carrier presence since Northwest pulled out of the market last year. American Airlines also is interested in that route.
The two sides also said they will open discussions this spring toward a new air services agreement. France renounced its air accord with the U.S. in 1992, and the pact lapsed a year later. Since then, the two countries have been at arms' length regarding aviation matters.
The recent dispute centered around France's refusal to allow U.S. carriers to operate added services to France during the summer months. That refusal involved flights from New York, Washington, D.C., and Houston. U.S. carriers that fly to France are TWA, American, Delta, Continental, United and Tower Air.
Transportation Secretary Federico Peña, in response, issued an order disapproving a request from Air France to operate 500 extra frequencies this summer between Paris and Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Before the situation got out of hand, however, DOT Assistant Secretary Charles Hunnicutt met in Paris with his French counterpart, and a truce was declared.
Peña said that while it is important that the current aviation problem with France was solved, he added, "Equally important, however, is that we may now begin the process of regularizing our aviation relations with France. We are hopeful that the French will join other nations in Europe who have already agreed with us to move toward a much more open and more competitive market for air services.