'air carrier' shall mean an air transport undertaking holding a currently valid operating licence or equivalent at the latest on 31 January for the following summer season or on 31 August for the following winter season; for the purposes of Articles 5, 9, 10, 11 and 13, the definition of 'air carrier' shall also include business aviation operators; for the purposes of Articles 7, 17 and 18; the definition of 'air carrier' shall also include all civil aircraft operators;

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of bilateral agreements between Member States, and subject to the Community competition rules applicable to undertakings, Community air carriers shall be permitted by the Member State(s) concerned to combine air services and to enter into code share arrangements on air services to, from or via any airport in their territory from or to any point(s) in third countries.

"air carrier ' means an air transport undertaking with a valid operating licence;

2. Making a legal distinction between internal transport and flights to third countries ignores, moreover, the reality of the way in which airlines conduct their planning. Whilst, against the background of the present crisis in the sector, cooperation in the form of airline alliances such as the 'Star Alliance' is becoming increasingly vital to individual companies, the latter do not necessarily distinguish in this connection between internal and external routes.

that air transport plays a vital role in the European economy and for international trade and cooperation and that the aviation sector has a major contribution to offer in improving the competitiveness of the European economy as set out in the Lisbon Agenda; that the achievements of the Community's internal aviation market for both EU industry and users have created significant benefits for consumers and significant opportunities for operators that can be explored in respect of the Community's aviation relations with third countries as well as providing useful references for third countries; that the negotiation of new or amended aviation agreements with third countries must be conducted in a spirit which seeks to deliver mutually benefic ...[+++]ial outcomes; that differences in the stages of development of Member States' bilateral aviation arrangements with third countries can, in practice, lead to inequalities in the opportunities available to Community carriers in some international markets; the important role of industry and consumer stakeholders, in particular the European airline industry, in the development of the Community's external aviation policy;

It must not hold an ownership interest in, or operate as, or be, an air carrier (clause 50(4)).