The US has currently ruled out any bilateral deal with Ireland on opening up the aviation sector, seen as a key driver of growth for Aer Lingus.

The US department of transport said yesterday that Washington would pursue a "comprehensive agreement" with the whole of the EU, rather than seek bilateral agreements that are open to legal challenge in EU courts.

Agreement on the so-called "open skies'" treaty, over which Brussels and Washington have wrangled since 2003, suffered a severe setback last month after the US abandoned plans to allow overseas investors more say in its domestic airlines, something the EU had made a condition for signing the pact.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen indicated at the time that the Government would pursue a previously worked out bilateral agreement if new talks broke down.