SLATER TO PROMOTE OPEN SKIES IN EUROPE

SLATER TO PROMOTE OPEN SKIES IN EUROPE    U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater will promote the liberalization of global aviation markets during his trip to Europe this week, the U.S. Transportation Department said.
   Slater is scheduled to meet with European Union transportation officials, including EU Transport Minister Loyola de Palacio, and the French transport minister.
   “As our open skies partners in Europe and around the globe understand, the airlines, consumers, shippers and economies of all nations benefit when barriers to aviation services are eliminated,” Slater said in a statement.
   Slater has said he wants the U.S. and its trading partners to begin moving beyond the current bilateral system of negotiating aviation rights to a more multilateral or regional approach. He traveled to Asia in February and to Central America last year to spread the message.