EU agrees to drop restrictions on leasing of US crewed planes

European govts have agreed to scrap restrictions on foreign airlines leasing planes and crews from US carriers under a deal reached with the EU, Iceland and Norway, the US said Tuesday. The EU in May 2017 agreed to open talks with the US on the issue. The US State Department said the deal signed in Brussels would "remove one-sided time constraints on US air carrier leases of aircraft with crew in the lucrative US-EU air transport market." The US DoT said these leases "can represent an important revenue source to the carrier providing the aircraft and crews." "US carriers will now be able to compete fairly in the marketplace, more broadly offering their services in worldwide markets, and gaining a valuable chance to benefit from the new commercial opportunities," it added. <br/>