Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME1661
2006-06-05 13:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
LINATE AIRPORT: GOI WANTS TO WAIT ON CONSULTATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO7965 PP RUEHFL RUEHNP DE RUEHRO #1661 1561352 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051352Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4963 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1512 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 7188 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 1448 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 1516 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4371
UNCLAS ROME 001661
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
BRUSSELS FOR FAA REP EDWARDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR IT
SUBJECT: LINATE AIRPORT: GOI WANTS TO WAIT ON CONSULTATIONS
PENDING REVIEW OF LINATE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS BY NEW
GOVERNMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 80709
B. ROME 1303
UNCLAS ROME 001661
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
BRUSSELS FOR FAA REP EDWARDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR IT
SUBJECT: LINATE AIRPORT: GOI WANTS TO WAIT ON CONSULTATIONS
PENDING REVIEW OF LINATE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS BY NEW
GOVERNMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 80709
B. ROME 1303
1. (U) Summary: In response to ref A letter from DAS John
Byerly, ENAC Director General Silvano Manera stated his
agency wants to wait on holding bilateral consultations until
the new GOI has a chance to review Linate airport
restrictions. End summary.
New GOI Will Review Linate Rules
--------------
2. (U) A/Ecmin met with ENAC (Italy's civil aviation agency)
Director General Silvano Manera May 25 to discuss ref A
letter from DAS John Byerly. Manera reiterated his view (ref
B) that the GOI's 2001 decree barring trans-Atlantic service
to and from Milan's Linate Airport had failed in its intended
purpose of diverting air travelers to Malpensa Airport.
Manera said he would recommend to Italy's new Minister of
Transport, Alessandro Bianchi, that destination restrictions
for Linate be scrapped in favor of noise and pollution
controls. If this recommendation is accepted, Manera said,
an airline could fly trans-Atlantic to/from Linate provided
the AIRCRAFT met strict noise and pollution limits. Manera
said bilateral consultations with the USG on Linate would
need to wait until the new GOI has had a chance to review the
2001 decree, which will likely take until fall 2006.
Linate Threatened By Noise Lawsuits
--------------
3. (SBU) Manera said ENAC is now dealing with several
lawsuits from communities near Linate airport. He said
residents around Linate are growing less and less tolerant of
noise, and ENAC is concerned that Italy's judiciary may step
in to impose additional traffic limitations or even close
Linate altogether.
4. (SBU) Regarding the Eurofly/Milano Manhattan Club, Manera
said he had not expected Eurofly to actually commence
operations from Linate on May 8. Manera said Eurofly had
been "sneaky" in its attempts to exploit loopholes and he did
not question the USG's move to ban the flights. (Note:
Eurofly inaugurated its all-business-class service between
Milan and New York May 29 with a flight from Malpensa. End
note.)
Alitalia Not Out of the Woods
--------------
5. (SBU) Finally, Manera, who for 30 years worked as a pilot
for Alitalia, offered a pessimistic assessment of the flag
carrier's viability. While Alitalia was not at risk of
running out of money in the near term, Manera remarked, the
airline still does not have a sustainable long-term strategy.
He said the GOI cannot afford to continue bailing out the
airline should it face bankruptcy again.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
BRUSSELS FOR FAA REP EDWARDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR IT
SUBJECT: LINATE AIRPORT: GOI WANTS TO WAIT ON CONSULTATIONS
PENDING REVIEW OF LINATE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS BY NEW
GOVERNMENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 80709
B. ROME 1303
1. (U) Summary: In response to ref A letter from DAS John
Byerly, ENAC Director General Silvano Manera stated his
agency wants to wait on holding bilateral consultations until
the new GOI has a chance to review Linate airport
restrictions. End summary.
New GOI Will Review Linate Rules
--------------
2. (U) A/Ecmin met with ENAC (Italy's civil aviation agency)
Director General Silvano Manera May 25 to discuss ref A
letter from DAS John Byerly. Manera reiterated his view (ref
B) that the GOI's 2001 decree barring trans-Atlantic service
to and from Milan's Linate Airport had failed in its intended
purpose of diverting air travelers to Malpensa Airport.
Manera said he would recommend to Italy's new Minister of
Transport, Alessandro Bianchi, that destination restrictions
for Linate be scrapped in favor of noise and pollution
controls. If this recommendation is accepted, Manera said,
an airline could fly trans-Atlantic to/from Linate provided
the AIRCRAFT met strict noise and pollution limits. Manera
said bilateral consultations with the USG on Linate would
need to wait until the new GOI has had a chance to review the
2001 decree, which will likely take until fall 2006.
Linate Threatened By Noise Lawsuits
--------------
3. (SBU) Manera said ENAC is now dealing with several
lawsuits from communities near Linate airport. He said
residents around Linate are growing less and less tolerant of
noise, and ENAC is concerned that Italy's judiciary may step
in to impose additional traffic limitations or even close
Linate altogether.
4. (SBU) Regarding the Eurofly/Milano Manhattan Club, Manera
said he had not expected Eurofly to actually commence
operations from Linate on May 8. Manera said Eurofly had
been "sneaky" in its attempts to exploit loopholes and he did
not question the USG's move to ban the flights. (Note:
Eurofly inaugurated its all-business-class service between
Milan and New York May 29 with a flight from Malpensa. End
note.)
Alitalia Not Out of the Woods
--------------
5. (SBU) Finally, Manera, who for 30 years worked as a pilot
for Alitalia, offered a pessimistic assessment of the flag
carrier's viability. While Alitalia was not at risk of
running out of money in the near term, Manera remarked, the
airline still does not have a sustainable long-term strategy.
He said the GOI cannot afford to continue bailing out the
airline should it face bankruptcy again.
SPOGLI