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Rep. Vaitoa suggests cabotage waiver
Wednesday,
June 24, 2009
The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Vaitoa Hans Langkilde has commended Congressman Faleomavaega for taking the initiative to request that Manu’a be given essential air service designation.
Vaitoa said on the House floor this morning that he was pleased to hear of the congressman’s request to the Department of Transportation. He added that such a request should have been made a long time ago as it would help improve air transportation for Manu’a.
Vaitoa urged that the congressman also introduce legislation that would exempt American Samoa from cabotage regulations. He said this would allow a foreign carrier to come here and pick up passengers and cargo and continue to Honolulu, on a weekly basis. Vaitoa said a cabotage exemption was granted to Alaska before.
Congressman Faleomavaega has said that from his own research it will be very difficult to gain support for a cabotage waiver because once it’s granted for one jurisdiction, other states and territories would want the same privilege.
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