ICELANDAIR ON TRACK TO IMPLEMENT TSA REQUIREMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000154 EEB FOR MOORE; TSA FOR LYNES, MELENDEZ, GARDENER, MONREAL, AND PARTEN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019 TAGS: EAIR IC PGOV PREL SUBJECT: ICELANDAIR ON TRACK TO IMPLEMENT TSA REQUIREMENTS Classified By: CDA WATSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 19, Craig Lynes, Acting TSA Representative at U.S. Embassy London and Sandra Melendez, TSA International Industry Representative, met with representatives of Iceland's Civil Aviation Administration and air carrier Icelandair to discuss outstanding issues from a routine inspection of airline and airport security procedures that took place August 4-6 at Keflavik Airport. The meetings were very positive, and the Icelandic authorities expressed a commitment to make requisite changes. Many requirements have been implemented since the inspection, and several longer-term issues are being addressed. Icelandic officials were very receptive to increasing communication with TSA and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate sharing sensitive security information (SSI). Icelandic officials also responded favorably to TSA's invitation to visit a U.S. port of entry. End summary. ¶2. (C) TSA Officials Lynes and Melendez met with Petur Maack, Director of the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration (CAA),and representatives of Icelandair on August 19 to discuss a way forward after the TSA inspection on August 4-6 of airline and airport security procedures at Keflavik Airport. Icelandair has been proactive in addressing many of the deficiencies identified during the inspection. It reported that about 60 percent of the issues had already been addressed and those remaining were in progress. Several outstanding issues, however, are not easy fixes. Some requirements, such as implementing open, continuous screening, will requie additional funds, which could be difficult to allocate as the government is calling for a 10% budget cut in most sectors. In other cases, such as examining footwear of select passengers, the CAA must draft legal provisions and issue directives. Despite the challenges, Icelandic officials stated their commitment to work with TSA make the necessary changes. TSA expressed a desire to return to Iceland at a later date to assess the airport again and verify that the requisite changes have been made. Icelandic officials are amenable to the request. ¶3. (C) TSA made significant progress in increasing its lines of communication with Icelandic aviation officials. An MOU was signed to facilitate the sharing of SSI. CAA Director Maack was receptive to implementing a bilateral information sharing agreement between TSA and the CAA so that separate MOUs for each issue, such as threat guidance, would be unnecessary. Also, Maack was very receptive to the invitation to view TSA operations at a U.S. point of entry and meet with key TSA personnel. Funding permitting, he would like to conduct the visit at some point this winter. WATSON