AIRLINES

U.S. Near Aviation Deal With Britain: Transportation Secretary Federico Pena said Britain has generally agreed to an agenda for a “mini-deal” to end some bilateral aviation curbs and to open fresh talks toward further liberalization. He told a Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation that the planned agreement would open rights for U.S. and British carriers between British regional airports and the United States and add flights to London’s Heathrow airport from Philadelphia and Chicago. Officials said the Chicago route would be flown by United Airlines. Additional Philadelphia routes would be flown by British Airways. Talks on the deal are set for June 1-2 in Washington.