Brazil plans to end Open Skies airline negotiation with EU

Brazil’s civil aviation regulator ANAC intends to close the negotiation of an Open Skies treaty with the EU after 8 years without reaching agreement, a senior ANAC official said. The stumbling block has been the EU’s refusal to grant Brazil the so-called fifth freedom traffic rights, which would allow Brazilian airlines to pick up passengers in EU countries when they continue to destinations outside the bloc, he said. “Unfortunately, we are considering ending the negotiations because they are not going anywhere,” ANAC director Juliano Noman said Wednesday. “The EU does not want to give us fifth freedom. We do not think that is reasonable.” The EC said it regretted Brazil was no longer interested in concluding the air transport negotiation. <br/>