TFHO1: CURFEWS GROUNDING AIR TRAFFIC

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000956 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, EEB/TRA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAIR PGOV CASC KDEM HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: CURFEWS GROUNDING AIR TRAFFIC REF: TEGUCIGALPA 745 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Central American Air Navigation Services Corporation COCESNA) confirmed that Air Traffic Control (ATC) services have been unaffected by the curfew and continue with no interruptions to ATC services, including services provided to flights between the U.S. and Latin America that fly through Honduran air space. American Airlines, Continental, and Delta have cancelled flights due to airport closures and curfews. Delta and Continental have not made any long-term operational decisions; instead they are taking each day as it comes. Delta intends to fly tomorrow, September 24, barring any curfews, and Continental has not yet made a decision. Meanwhile, American Airlines intends to resume flights on Friday, September 25. Interairports, the company that manages the four airports in Honduras, said that during the hours that no curfew is in effect, they are supporting domestic flights and some international cargo flights. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The president of the Central American Air Navigation Services Corporation (COCESNA),Bayardo Pagoada, confirmed to Econ Off that Air Traffic Control (ATC) services have been unaffected by the curfew. COCESNA's control hub in Tegucigalpa remains fully staffed and they have enacted an extraordinary staffing schedule to ensure that there will be no interruptions to ATC services, including services provided to flights between the U.S. and Latin America that fly through Honduran air space. COCESNA provides services above 19,000 feet and is currently providing services to all planes that need to land in Honduras. ¶3. (SBU) U.S. commercial carriers American Airlines, Continental, and Delta have cancelled their flights in and out of Honduras due to airport closures and curfews. Delta and Continental country representatives said to EconOff that they have not made any long-term operational decisions, instead they are taking each day as it comes. Delta intends to fly tomorrow, September 24, barring any curfews, and Continental has not yet made a decision. Meanwhile, American Airlines intends to resume flights on Friday, September 25. All airlines are adjusting their policies to allow travelers to change tickets during the current situation. However, they differ on validity dates of the offers or whether this includes changing flights to airports outside Honduras, such as San Salvador. Direct flights to Roatan with U.S. carriers fly only on the weekend, so no change in these flights have yet been announced. The current situation in Honduras has not affected these carriers' flights to neighboring countries. ¶4. (SBU) Interairports, the company that manages the four airports in Honduras, told the Consul General that during the hours that no curfew is in effect, they are supporting domestic flights and some international cargo flights. EconOff confirmed with DHL that they successfully flew a small cargo plane out of Honduras bound for Miami. Iris Mariona, UPS Country Manager for Honduras, said that they have not been able to operate since Tuesday and their small and heavy cargo businesses are paralyzed. EconOff also contacted Carlos Gonzales, International Sales Director for Amerijet, who confirmed that their plane had been grounded in Honduras on Monday and was finally able to depart today. Amerijet normally operates three flights per week to Honduras and will attempt to send cargo flights to Honduras when the curfew is lifted. LLORENS