How was the European airline industry transformed from national fragmentation in 1957 to a point in 2006 where the European Commission could negotiate with the US for an Open Aviation Area on behalf of all twenty five members of the European Union? What can explain the change in mindset that saw conservatism and the tight regulation of the airline industry replaced with increased competitiveness and the subsequent rise of the low cost no-frills airline? In his new book, Alan P. Dobson draws from a mass of European documentation, including interviews with officials and airline executives and a unique collection of personal papers, to answer these questions.

Dobson traces the liberalization of the airline industry from the 1970s right through to the present day, illustrating how integration came about and which forces were driving it. The approach is comprehensive, focusing on the work of the Commission, market forces, the voices of airline industry interests and on key individuals in the policy making process. The story concludes with an overview of the attempts by the EU and the US to create an Open Aviation Area that would embrace their respective airline industries allowing free operation of services throughout their territories and mutual ownership and control of each others airlines.

This book is a key resource for students and researchers interested in aviation and international policy, as well as academics engaged with European integration, globalism and economic history.