GOI: EVERGREEN CAN'T SELF-HANDLE AT GROTTAGLIE

UNCLAS ROME 000692 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS BRUSSELS FOR FAA REP EDWARDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR IT FAA AVIATION SUBJECT: GOI: EVERGREEN CAN'T SELF-HANDLE AT GROTTAGLIE REF: A. STATE 10190 ¶B. JONES/MAY EMAILS ¶1. (U) In response to ref A demarche, Gennaro Bronzone, Deputy Chief of Air Regulatory Service at ENAC, Italy's aviation regulatory agency, told Econoff that the GOI cannot allow Evergreen to conduct cargo self-handling operations because, as a low-traffic airport, Grottaglie is not subject to liberalization under the bilateral open skies agreement. Evergreen, he said, must come to some agreement with Societa Esercizio Aeroorti Puglia (SEAP) to share cargo-handling duties related to the transport of 787 parts. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Embassy was preparing to approach the GOI at higher levels, when we received word (ref B) that Evergreen preferred that we stop pressing this issue. That said, we stand ready to advocate further for Evergreen as needed. End comment. SPOGLI