NC congressman raises security concerns about US flights to Cuba

NC congressman raises security concerns about US flights to Cuba

American Airlines spokesman: We wouldn't fly to any airport that didn't
meet our security standard
Lawmakers send multiple letters to senior security officials, craft
legislation to block flights
They say U.S. authorities have failed to assure them the Havana airport
has appropriate security
BY MAGGIE YBARRA
mybarra@mcclatchydc.com

WASHINGTON
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina is one of several politicians
who want to halt the Obama administration's plan to allow regular
flights to Havana until better security measures have been put in place.

Lawmakers say U.S. authorities have failed to assure them that the
island nation's José Martí International Airport has the body scanners
and explosive detection systems necessary to protect U.S. citizens from
becoming victims of terror attacks. Hudson, R-Concord, and House
Homeland Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman John Katko,
R-N.Y., said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on
Thursday that they were concerned about inadequate security in a country
that "has been a safe haven for terrorists."

"(We) still cannot verify if Cuba has the adequate body scanners and
explosive detection systems in place," says the letter to Foxx,
Charlotte's former mayor. "We additionally are unable to determine
whether they have the technology to screen for fraudulent passports and
identification, whether or how Cuban aviation workers are screened and
if United States federal air marshals will be allowed to fly missions to
Cuba on commercial flights."

This is the fifth letter lawmakers have sent to the Obama administration
within the past three months. Katko has sent the others to Department of
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Transportation Security
Administration Administrator Peter Neffenger. Johnson assured House
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, in a
response letter June 30 that the TSA would monitor airport operations
closely to ensure that flights to and from Cuba meet international
security standards.

Congressional concern about potential security lapses comes as the
Transportation Department has awarded 20 daily nonstop routes between
the U.S. and Cuba to American Airlines and several other airlines.
Hudson told McClatchy his security concerns had led him to set up a
meeting with an American Airlines representative to address the
possibility that passengers who fly to Cuba could be putting their lives
in danger. Charlotte, where American Airlines operates its
second-largest hub, was one of 10 cities tentatively selected by the
U.S. Department of Transportation to receive nonstop routes to Havana.

"I care very deeply about American Airlines being very successful, a
very critical economic driver for Charlotte and our region," he said. "
. . . But my take on it is: If they have a plane and it gets a bomb on
it and it blows up, that's going to have a much bigger impact on their
economic viability than maybe having to refund some tickets."

American Airlines already sends public charter flights to some of the
country's airports.

"The bottom line is that we wouldn't fly to any airport that didn't meet
our security standard or that hasn't been approved by TSA, frankly,
whether the service is scheduled or chartered, and today we, of course,
operate charter services to Cuba," an American Airlines spokesman said,
speaking only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity
of the subject.

The addition of commercial flights to Cuba is one of the steps President
Barack Obama has taken to loosen the U.S. trade embargo on the island
nation since Dec. 17, 2014. Lawmakers became alarmed after a TSA
official revealed security issues during a private, informal meeting in
early March but then declined to discuss those issues during a public
congressional hearing in May, Hudson said.

TSA officials said authorities were working toward completing an
arrangement with the Cuban government to deploy federal air marshals on
flights between the United States and Cuba. Even then, the initial
arrangement between the countries will allow for those Federal Air
Marshals to be present only on public charter flights.

Lawmakers became increasingly frustrated with the inability of officials
to answer questions during a formal congressional hearing and eventually
decided to seek answers by going to Cuba to examine security at the
country's airports firsthand. But Cuba denied their visa applications.

FRANCO ORDOÑEZ CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE.

Maggie Ybarra, 202-383-6048; @MolotovFlicker

Source: NC Congressman Richard Hudson raises security concerns about
U.S. flights to Cuba | In Cuba Today -
http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article89706242.html