spinproof
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Reuters.com - No Spin. No Agenda. Just the Facts. As they happen.
By Patrick Markey
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Venezuela will cut some flights of U.S. carriers, including Delta Air Lines (DALRQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research), Continental Airlines (CAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and American Airlines <AMR.N in the latest dispute between Washington and the world's No. 5 oil exporter.
The restrictions on U.S. passenger and cargo flights came after Washington refused to lift U.S. limits on Venezuelan carriers put in place in 1995 due to concerns over safety standards, Venezuela's INAC aviation authority said.
Relations between Venezuela and the United States hit a low earlier this month when left-wing President Hugo Chavez expelled a U.S. military attache accused of spying and Washington responded with a tit-for-tat expulsion of a Venezuelan diplomat.
INAC did not name the U.S. airlines, but Roberto Pulido, president of the Venezuelan airline association, said the measure would cancel some flight frequencies of Delta, American and Continental when it goes into effect on Mar. 1.
"The INAC has exhausted all conciliatory avenues with the U.S. aviation authorities... and has not been able to reestablish rights the bilateral accord gives to Venezuelan air carriers," the Venezuelan agency said.
Washington said on Friday it could weigh possible countermeasures should Caracas goes ahead with suspension.
"We are working to resolve this serious dispute. If Venezuela proceeds with its announced plans, we will consider options for an appropriate response," U.S. State Department spokesman Eric Watnik said in Washington.
He said Venezuela had not consulted Washington before notifying U.S. carriers that their flights would be canceled or sharply reduced from Mar. 1. He said the move violated a 1953 U.S.-Venezuela Air Transport Services Agreement.
EXECUTIVE TALKS
Pulido, an airline association representative, said U.S. airline representatives would meet with Venezuelan authorities later on Friday to discuss the measure and its impact.
"We are very disappointed by this unilateral action by the Venezuelan government and are working closely with the US departments of state and transport as will as our peer carriers, who received similar notice," Delta spokesman John Kennedy said.
Continental Airlines said in a statement that it would maintain its daily Caracas to Houston flight and a weekly Caracas to Newark flight while it clarified the situation.
U.S. officials say former soldier Chavez and ally Cuba are undermining democracy in the region. He counters that Washington wants to overthrow him to stop his self-styled socialist revolution and control Venezuela's oil reserves.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority in 1995 said Venezuelan authorities had failed to fully comply with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and rated them a category 2, which restricted Venezuelan carrier flights to United States.
Venezuela briefly canceled direct flights by U.S. carriers in 1996 after Washington threatened to downgrade Venezuelan aviation authorities further with a full ban on local flights to the United States.
(Additional reporting by Magdalena Morales in Caracas and Jeremy Pelofsky and Sue Pleming in Washington)
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
By Patrick Markey
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Venezuela will cut some flights of U.S. carriers, including Delta Air Lines (DALRQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research), Continental Airlines (CAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and American Airlines <AMR.N in the latest dispute between Washington and the world's No. 5 oil exporter.
The restrictions on U.S. passenger and cargo flights came after Washington refused to lift U.S. limits on Venezuelan carriers put in place in 1995 due to concerns over safety standards, Venezuela's INAC aviation authority said.
Relations between Venezuela and the United States hit a low earlier this month when left-wing President Hugo Chavez expelled a U.S. military attache accused of spying and Washington responded with a tit-for-tat expulsion of a Venezuelan diplomat.
INAC did not name the U.S. airlines, but Roberto Pulido, president of the Venezuelan airline association, said the measure would cancel some flight frequencies of Delta, American and Continental when it goes into effect on Mar. 1.
"The INAC has exhausted all conciliatory avenues with the U.S. aviation authorities... and has not been able to reestablish rights the bilateral accord gives to Venezuelan air carriers," the Venezuelan agency said.
Washington said on Friday it could weigh possible countermeasures should Caracas goes ahead with suspension.
"We are working to resolve this serious dispute. If Venezuela proceeds with its announced plans, we will consider options for an appropriate response," U.S. State Department spokesman Eric Watnik said in Washington.
He said Venezuela had not consulted Washington before notifying U.S. carriers that their flights would be canceled or sharply reduced from Mar. 1. He said the move violated a 1953 U.S.-Venezuela Air Transport Services Agreement.
EXECUTIVE TALKS
Pulido, an airline association representative, said U.S. airline representatives would meet with Venezuelan authorities later on Friday to discuss the measure and its impact.
"We are very disappointed by this unilateral action by the Venezuelan government and are working closely with the US departments of state and transport as will as our peer carriers, who received similar notice," Delta spokesman John Kennedy said.
Continental Airlines said in a statement that it would maintain its daily Caracas to Houston flight and a weekly Caracas to Newark flight while it clarified the situation.
U.S. officials say former soldier Chavez and ally Cuba are undermining democracy in the region. He counters that Washington wants to overthrow him to stop his self-styled socialist revolution and control Venezuela's oil reserves.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority in 1995 said Venezuelan authorities had failed to fully comply with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and rated them a category 2, which restricted Venezuelan carrier flights to United States.
Venezuela briefly canceled direct flights by U.S. carriers in 1996 after Washington threatened to downgrade Venezuelan aviation authorities further with a full ban on local flights to the United States.
(Additional reporting by Magdalena Morales in Caracas and Jeremy Pelofsky and Sue Pleming in Washington)
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
