AIRLINES

U.S. Wants Airline Rules Eased Globally: The Clinton Administration announced plans Tuesday to begin talks with nine European nations in an effort to remove obstacles to establishment of international “hub-and-spoke” systems much like those adopted by many U.S. carriers after the industry was deregulated. The aim of the talks, as outlined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, is to allow U.S. carriers to use these hub destinations as stopping points to other cities worldwide, a practice discouraged in some countries. Lifting current barriers would allow U.S. airlines to offer more competitive prices, fly to more cities and increase the frequency of flights, according to a policy report.