The European Union is planning to introduce a new chapter in transatlantic air travel by approving a broad aviation pact with the U. S. However, the role of Britain’s still remains questionable and uncertain that can adversely affect the pact as it has expressed strong reservations for ‘open skies’ deal in the near past. Under the arrangements of the prospective deal, European airlines would be allowed to make transatlantic flights from any nation, not just their home country. The agreement also seeks to open up Heathrow so that more airlines could land and take off from the London airport. European Union transport ministers are in all probability to approve a deal to liberalize air travel between the European Union and the U.S. If the deal is approved, the Open Skies air transport agreement will eliminate restrictive rules on flights across the Atlantic and consequently would mark the end of three decades of intense political squabbling between Europe and the U.S. Regardless of the noticeable development, the subject is still highly debatable and complex. Supporter of the deal argue that it will increase competition in a market currently worth $18 billion, bringing fares down, create new jobs, and boost economic growth. However, unanswered critical questions and vagueness still remains on both sides of the Atlantic. Europeans have contended that the deal is biased in favor of the U.S., and both Europeans and Americans complain about the lack of clarity on legal restrictions to foreign ownership of U.S.-based airlines. On the other side of the story, Britain is unwilling to lift restrictions on London’s busy Heathrow airport without getting more rights to invest in U.S. carriers. It wants assurance that Washington will negotiate a follow-up settlement giving European airlines more freedom to invest in US airlines and operate domestic US flights. At the same time, British Airways fears losing control of London’s Heathrow airport if the new deal has been inked. The UK wants modifications to rules curbing European investment in US airlines, and has said it may vote against the deal. As a matter of fact, Britain want to delay the implementation of the ‘open skies’ deal until March 2008 and automatic termination of the deal in case if the U. S. was not cooperating on a second-phase agreement by 2010. In the meanwhile, Tony Blair has failed in his efforts to convince President George Bush to exclude Heathrow airport from an EU-US ‘open skies’ deal, increasing the pressure on Britain to veto the deal when European transport ministers vote on it.