US near aviation deal with post-Brexit UK

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters): The United States and United Kingdom are nearing an open skies aviation agreement to govern air travel after Britain exits the European Union, two government officials briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.

The sides have set what they expect will be a final round of talks for Wednesday, the US and British sources said. The UK's secretary of state for transport, Chris Grayling, plans to be in Washington later this week to sign an agreement.

A UK Department of Transport spokesperson said Tuesday that "our discussions with the US about a new UK-US air service agreement have been positive and we have made significant progress. Both sides want to conclude these discussions soon."

The department added that "all parties have a shared interest in ensuring that existing rights will continue under the new bilateral arrangements, allowing airlines on both sides of the Atlantic to continue to operate existing services as well as to seek to develop new ones."

The US Transportation Department did not comment.

The biggest concern has been over rules that require airlines to have substantial US or UK ownership.