Collins, King join Maine coalition’s call for Cuba-bound flight stops
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are joining U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree in introducing legislation in Washington that would allow foreign air carriers traveling to or from Cuba to make non-traffic, transit stops in the United States.
Currently, charter flights from Europe land at airports on the East Coast to make transit stops to refuel, take on food and exchange crews. But flights bound from Cuba are currently restricted from stopping in the United States, so many airlines have moved all of their flights to Canada.
“Under the current travel ban, foreign air carriers are forced to make transit stops in Canada rather than the United States, and any potential profit for U.S. airports flies right across the border along with the planes,” Collins and King said in a joint statement about the legislation. “Our bill would provide American airports and workers the opportunity to compete with Canadian airports and would align U.S. policy with existing international air travel agreements.”
According to Poliquin's office, these restrictions cause the Bangor International Airport to lose out on more than 200 flights a year.
The legislation proposed would allow Cuba-bound flights to make technical stops at American airports, while still preventing passengers from being able to depart from the United States or clear immigration.
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