EU pushes pact for air services

The European Union hopes to get a preliminary “open skies” air services agreement with the United States in the first half of the year, its top transportation official said Monday.

Such an agreement covering the world’s two largest aviation markets would allow EU and U.S. airlines to fly to wherever they want and charge whatever they want on trans-Atlantic flights, a move that could lead to lower ticket prices for passengers.

The talks are currently on hold until Washington provides details on how it will lift foreign airline ownership restrictions and allow foreign investors more say over the management of U.S. carriers.