US DoT: Puerto Rico issues reply regarding previous request for increased flexibility

US Department of Transportation (DoT) received (31-Jul-2019) a reply from Puerto Rico, on behalf of its international airports, regarding its previous application for increased passenger and cargo transfer flexibility at its international airports. Puerto Rico stated its application is strongly in the public interest, and will create benefits and opportunities for Puerto Rico, the US and US carriers. Puerto Rico argued the following:

• Many comments in reply to Puerto Rico's application emphasise the benefits to Puerto Rico, the US and US carriers it would create;
• The limited opposition to the application ignores the benefits to Puerto Rico, the US and US carriers, and asserts only unrelated or incorrect arguments;
• Puerto Rico seeks only expanded passenger and cargo transfer flexibility at its airports, not cabotage;
• This authority will benefit US carriers by expanding interline opportunities with foreign carriers;
• The exemption sought by Puerto Rico is consistent with the DoT's previous grant of such authority;
• Puerto Rico seeks an exemption to enhance its international airports, stating the private management of any of these airports is irrelevant. [more - original PR]