Poland and EU agree to liberalize air transport by 2004; prices likely to drop

On Monday Polish and European Union (EU) negotiators signed an agreement on full liberalization of air connections between EU countries, Poland and other accession candidates, starting on January 1, 2004. According to experts from Brussels, Poles should expect a drop in ticket prices, an increase in number of connections and more adherence to consumer rights legislation in the upcoming months. Poland was granted a transition period until Jan. 1, 2004 to prepare its air transportation monopolist Polish Airlines LOT for full liberalization of the market. Polish negotiators plan that the Cabinet will ratify the agreement in January, as it should be officially signed in March 2001 and come into force in the fall of next year. When it does, the world's biggest zone of liberalized air transport will be created, with at least 26 countries participating. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) M.M.