Attack on US-UK flights accord

The airline BMI British Midland requested on 30 January 2002 that the European Commission investigate the legality of the United Kingdom's restrictive air services agreement with the United States (the so-called Bermuda II treaty), which it believes is in breach of EU competition law. BMI British Midland also threatened legal action against the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Byers, for abandoning 'open skies' talks with the United States on 28 January 2002 aimed at liberalising the transatlantic air market.