Air Transport

UK budget carrier EasyJet has become the first airline to take advantage of new liberalised air services agreements with countries neighbouring the European Union to add flights to three new markets outside the EU, launching its first services to Croatia, Morocco and Turkey this summer.

EasyJet is starting London Gatwick to Marrakesh and London Luton to Istanbul and Rijeka (Croatia) services, while its Swiss arm is to operate between Basle and Istanbul. Morocco was the first African country to sign a liberalised air services agreement with the EU in mid-December. Turkey and Croatia also signed deals late last year and EasyJet is the first carrier to exploit the open rules. It becomes the first European budget carrier to operate the routes.

The EC aims to create a European Common Aviation Area covering most of Europe outside Russia with the same competition, safety and security rules as the EU.