WATF Awards 2007 Williams Trophy

Groundbreaking New Air Service Agreement will Benefit Millions of People

Arlington, VA, October 22, 2007 – The Washington Airports Task Force (WATF) today awarded the 2007 Williams Trophy to four individuals and their teams for successfully negotiating the new “Open Skies” air service agreement between the United States and the European Union.  The recipients are:

1)            Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of transport

2)            Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, United States Department of Transportation

3)            Daniel Calleja, Director for Air Transport, European Commission

4)            John Byerly, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, United States Department of State

The citation read: “For successfully negotiating, against all odds, an international air service agreement between the United States and the European Union.  This agreement will be of profound benefit to the deregulation of international air transportation worldwide, resulting in a lasting benefit for travelers, shippers and the economic health of the nations.”

The new agreement, the nomination stated, will deregulate market aspects of 70% of the world’s air transportation industry, liberating competition and stimulating travel between the United States and the nations of Europe.

 “At the stroke of a pen, the new agreement will help cities on both sides of the Atlantic gain new air services and stimulate new jobs.  Indeed, it’s already happening, as Aer Lingus has just launched flights between Washington Dulles and Dublin,” stated David Whitestone, Chairman of the Williams Trophy Selection Committee and a member of the WATF Executive Committee.  Mr. Whitestone is a partner in Holland & Knight, LLP.

The Williams Trophy commemorates the work of Carrington Williams (1919-2002), among whose many accomplishments was the creation of the Virginia Port Authority and the transformation of Washington Dulles into a major international gateway.  The Trophy is awarded annually to recognize those whose “Leadership, Vision and Dedication in the Application of Aviation or Space have enriched the Quality of Life on Earth.”

The WATF is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) Virginia Corporation that works to promote the expansion and enhancement of aviation services for Virginia and the National Capital region in order to stimulate job creation and economic prosperity.  As such, its views represent consumer, civic, and economic interests in a region whose tourism and high-tech employment is closely tied to the proficiency of its scheduled air service.  The WATF is goal oriented and its work has yielded hundreds of millions of dollars in economic return.