But traffic grew just 3 percent in other European markets. In Amsterdam, under Open Skies, connecting flights were up an unbelievable 500 percent in four years. But in Paris, where we don't have a treaty, they declined 16 percent. More passengers and more profits. And for consumers it means lower prices and better service.
Open markets are indeed important.
Some 40 percent of all world trade in terms of value is transported by air. Keeping these markets open and liberalizing those that are closed is vitally important to the prosperity of America and our trading partners. Lower prices and more service is where we want to go. And let me be clear that this is where things are headed. Aviation will be the mass transit of the next century.