EU-US Open Skies Agreement: what changes for airlines and logistics

Key data

Airlines with transatlantic operations and logistics operators moving cargo between Europe and the US face a new regulatory framework. The EU Council approved on 18 May 2026, through Decision (EU) 2026/1133, the ratification of the Air Transport Agreement between the US, the European Union and its Member States, Iceland and Norway, known as the transatlantic open skies agreement.

This is not a minor change: this agreement regulates the conditions under which airlines from all signatory territories can operate routes between them, with greater freedom and under a framework of regulated competition. For the commercial aviation and international logistics sector, the implications are direct.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1133 ratifies two differentiated legal instruments:

• Main Air Transport Agreement: between the US, the EU and its Member States, Iceland and Norway. It establishes the conditions for operating air routes between the territories of the signatory countries, with greater freedom of access and regulated competition.
• Subsidiary Agreement: between the EU and its Member States, Iceland and Norway. Its function is to integrate Iceland and Norway into the framework of the main EU-US agreement, given that both countries belong to the European Economic Area (EEA) but are not EU Member States.

The practical result is an expanded transatlantic airspace in which airlines from all signatory territories can operate with expanded traffic rights to the US and vice versa.

Economic and operational impact

The business consequences of this agreement translate into three main vectors:

• Greater competition on transatlantic routes: By expanding traffic rights, more airlines can operate on the same routes between Europe and the US. This puts downward pressure on prices and forces established airlines to review their pricing and capacity strategy.
• Potential fare reduction: For both passengers and cargo, the greater competition resulting from the agreement can translate into lower fares on transatlantic routes. For logistics operators, this can mean a reduction in costs for air transport of goods between the EU and the US.
• New route opportunities: European, Icelandic and Norwegian airlines can explore opening new routes to the US or expanding frequencies on existing ones, with a more favorable legal framework.

For airlines already operating transatlantic routes, the agreement can represent both an opportunity (access to new markets) and a threat (entry of new competitors on their current routes).

Who does it affect?

• European airlines with transatlantic operations or interest in opening them to the US.
• Icelandic and Norwegian airlines that are integrated into the framework of the agreement through the Subsidiary Agreement.
• US airlines that operate or want to operate routes to the EU, Iceland or Norway.
• International logistics operators that move air cargo between Europe and the US.
• Importing and exporting companies that use transatlantic air transport for their supply chains.
• Passengers on transatlantic routes EU-US, who may benefit from greater supply and potential fare reduction.

Practical example

A medium-sized European airline that currently operates routes between Madrid and New York faces two simultaneous scenarios resulting from this agreement:

On one hand, the expanded traffic rights allow it to explore opening new direct routes to other destinations in the US that may have previously been subject to restrictions. On the other hand, the same framework that opens doors for it also facilitates Icelandic or Norwegian airlines—now integrated into the agreement through the Subsidiary Agreement—to compete on transatlantic routes where they previously had less presence.

For a logistics operator shipping high-value goods between Barcelona and Chicago, the greater competition between airlines on transatlantic routes can translate into better tariff conditions when negotiating air cargo contracts, as more operators have traffic rights on those routes.

What should companies do now?

1. Review transatlantic route strategy: Airlines should analyze what new routes or frequencies to the US are viable under the new framework of expanded traffic rights.
2. Evaluate competitive impact: Identify what new competitors—especially Icelandic and Norwegian airlines now integrated into the agreement—can enter their current routes and prepare strategic response.
3. Renegotiate air cargo contracts: Logistics operators should take advantage of increased competition to review their transatlantic air transport agreements and seek better tariff conditions.
4. Monitor the entry into force date: The effective date of application of the agreement is not specified in the published Decision. It is essential to follow the official publication on EUR-Lex to know when it takes full effect.
5. Consult with specialized aviation advisory: The regulatory implications for airlines regarding traffic rights, operating licenses and compliance with the agreement require specific legal analysis of the sector.