GOVERNMENT OF ITALY OBJECTIONS TO U.S. AIR CARRIER

UNCLAS ROME 003465 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TRA (BYERLY, FAUX-GABLE, JONES) BRUSSELS FOR PAUL FELDMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR IT FAA AVIATION SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ITALY OBJECTIONS TO U.S. AIR CARRIER PRICES ON ITALY-MUMBAI ROUTES REF: SECSTATE 182292 ¶1. Econoff and post FAA representative met September 7 with Ente Nazionale per L'Aviazione Civile (ENAC) Deputy Director General Sciacchitano to deliver reftel points. Sciacchitano confirmed to Econoff that ENAC had "suspended" its attempts to force Delta and Northwest Airlines, among other airlines, to raise fifth freedom fares. (Note: The Italian press had earlier reported that ENAC had backed down from its threat to sanction fifth freedom carriers for undercutting prices offered by Alitalia. End Note.) ¶2. Sciacchitano said approximately 40 airlines received such letters requesting that they not undercut third and fourth freedom carriers. In light of Sciacchitano's confirmation of the suspension, Econoff did not raise reftel points orally but left them as a non-paper. Visit Rome's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME03465 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED