Does this mean the U.S. will allow Muslim ownership of American airlines?
 
 
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
US to proceed with airline foreign ownership plan: media

The Bush administration plans to move ahead this summer with its proposal to ease restrictions on foreign investment in US airlines despite strong congressional opposition, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said, according to Reuters. - (7/7/2006)

He told reporters he may have underestimated the strength of lawmaker sentiment on the politically sensitive plan to give foreign investors some say in day-to-day airline operations in exchange for equity.

As per the information available, the proposed change in Department of Transportation rules will encourage foreign investment in US airlines. Most important, officials are using this regulation as a carrot to persuade the European Union to sign off on an “open-skies� agreement deregulating U.S. air traffic over the Atlantic, media reported.

“The administration is taking its chances on Capitol Hill and moving forward now because delay beyond the autumn could threaten an agreement between the United States and European Union to eliminate longstanding barriers to more transatlantic air service -- especially to London's Heathrow airport. The EU has linked success of the foreign ownership plan to its approval of the landmark air services agreement,� Reuters report added.

Mineta reportedly said the Transportation Department hopes to finalize the foreign investment rule by the end of August, which would exploit the expected congressional lag time for addressing the matter and meet the timeline for European review.
 
 
 
 

Maranatha!
Deborah
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