The United States is lagging Europe in the push for an open skies pact that would give unprecedented access to domestic routes for carriers on both sides, Europe's top airlines association said on Tuesday.

"The US proposal for an initial agreement fell considerably short of the EU objective of establishing equal market opportunities," the Association of European Airlines said in a statement.

European transport ministers are set to meet in Brussels on March 8-9 to consider Washington's stance.

The two sides met in Washington last week for a third round of talks on setting up an Open Aviation Area between and within the EU and the United States.

"Key will be whether the US proposal for interim agreement provides for added value for the European aviation industry and benefits for consumers," said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus.

Years in the making, the talks were "probably the most complex in modern aviation," Schulte-Strathaus said, as negotiators consider allowing each other into their domestic markets.

Talks are also aimed at removing other barriers, such as US rules banning new carriers from using foreign firms for plane wet leases which include crew, maintenance and insurance.

(Reuters)