El Al Israel Airlines (LY, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) , Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) and Israir (6H, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) will have unfettered access to the European Union following the signing of an Open Skies agreement between Israel and the EU on Monday. The gradual implementation of the agreement over 5 years is designed to give Israeli airlines time to prepare themselves for a more competitive business climate. Each year, until the completion of the contract, each European destination will have seven additional weekly flights from and to Israel. In a small number of central European airports that typically serve as hubs, where extensive traffic to and from Israel already exists, only three weekly flights will be added each year. This could grant Israeli airlines some degree of protection from loss of business during the adjustment period. Thereafter, upon implementation of the agreement, an aviation industry exemption from the Antitrust Law will be expanded to eliminate the requirement of Israeli carriers to submit in advance code-sharing agreements with foreign aviation companies participating in the "open skies" deal (relating to flights to both the U.S. and Europe). By the start of the summer season in 2017, the market is expected to be fully open with no restrictions on the number of weekly flights between Israel and the EU.