The EC said Thursday it has reached a deal with Italy on the parameters for separating loss-making carrier Alitalia from its successor, a step key to securing EU approval for the new airline and to write off Alitalia's subsidies. Brussels and Rome have been in lengthy talks over Alitalia's fate and its successor Italia Trasporto Aereo, demanding that ITA should be independent from the former so that it will not be liable for Alitalia's billions of euros in state aid received in recent years. Commission Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager met Italy's economy and industry ministers late on Wednesday. "Following intense and constructive discussions at all levels, the Commission and the Italian authorities have reached a common understanding on the key parameters to ensure economic discontinuity between ITA and Alitalia," a Commission spokesperson said. The two sides had previously disagreed over ITA ceding half of Alitalia's slots at Milan Linate airport, the old brand and the loyalty programme. The Commission declined to comment on Rome's plan to extend to December the maturity of a E400million bridge loan granted Alitalia, according to a draft decree.<br/>
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The top executive of Air France-KLM, one of the world’s largest airline companies, was thrilled when Europe eased restrictions on American visitors last month. Now, he wants the United States to return the favor. While Europe has largely lifted restrictions on vaccinated American tourists, most Europeans are still barred from visiting the United States even if they have been inoculated against the coronavirus, to the frustration of businesses on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. “What we’re anxiously waiting for is reciprocity on the part of the U.S. government,” the Air France-KLM CE, Benjamin Smith, said this week. “The trans-Atlantic is the most important long-haul market that we have.” The US Chamber of Commerce last week called for the easing of travel restrictions put in place under the Trump administration, saying that the return of European business travelers and tourists would “help drive economic growth and job creation for Americans across the country.” Europe has typically been one of the biggest sources of tourists to the United States, especially to New York and other East Coast destinations. On Wednesday, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said the administration was considering lifting the ban. “We know people want to come here and people want to travel to other places; we understand that,” Psaki said. She added: “We have these working groups with Canadians, with Europeans, with others to determine the timeline and pace when we can reopen and do it safely.”<br/>