Aviation pact between US, European Union expanded; Labor article included

U.S.-EU expand Open Skies accord

ATLANTA — An aviation agreement that allows airlines to more freely operate flights between the U.S. and Europe is being expanded.

The Transportation Department said Thursday the U.S. and European Union agreed the terms of the 2007 pact will remain in place indefinitely.

The new agreement deepens U.S.-EU cooperation in aviation security and ease of travel. It also provides greater protections for U.S. carriers from local restrictions on night flights at European airports, and it includes an article on the importance of high labor standards in the airline industry.

Some workers at British Airways are currently on strike and workers of at least two other European carriers have threatened a walkout. In the U.S., the Railway Labor Act limits the ability of unionized airline workers to strike.