RESPONSE FROM COSTA RICA: COCESNA THREATENS TO CUT

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000597 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TRA/AN DANIEL HUTCHENS AND TIMOTHY ROCHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR KTIA KX HO CS ES GT NU PM SUBJECT: RESPONSE FROM COSTA RICA: COCESNA THREATENS TO CUT OFF ATC SERVICES TO AMERICAN AIRLINES REF: STATE 72975 ¶1. On July 14, we spoke with Jorge Fernandez Chacon, Director General of the Costa Rican Civil Aviation, regarding the dispute between American Airlines (AA) and Corporacion Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegacion Aerea (COCESNA). He clarified and/or reported the following to us: -- Costa Rican air space was not closed and that up to 20,000 feet AA would be provided Air Traffic Control Services (ATC); -- However, if aircraft flew higher than 20,000 feet, ATC services to AA would not be provided; -- Costa Rica must comply with COCESNA; -- AA and COCESNA were apparently about to sign an agreement in Honduras so hopefully the Central American countries would not have to limit services to AA on July 15, 2009. ¶2. Fernandez said that he had spoken with Sylvia Arias, the country manager for AA in Costa Rica, and had emphasized these points with her. ¶3. Finally, to date we have been unable to meet with the Minister of Transportation, Karla Gonzalez, but hope to meet with her soon. BRENNAN