I am surprised about the negative reactions generated by the Prince of Spain's "refusal" to undergo a security inspection at MIA. People who work at airports know that episodes like this happen, Some passengers, for various reasons, have similar privileges (diplomats, members of parliament, etc) but these privileges are given within a known set of rules and they do not constitute a breach of security. Most of the times it is just a way of being hospitable to a foreign dignitary or respecting rules that are internationally accepted. I do not know for sure, but I seriously doubt that the US Ambassador is searched at FCO when he flies to Washington. G. Mazzeo Rome, Italy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Automatic digest processor" <LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Recipients of AIRLINE digests" <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 6:02 AM Subject: AIRLINE Digest - 12 Apr 2004 (#2004-156) > There are 3 messages totalling 231 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Spain's crown prince in snit at MIA (2) > 2. NYTimes.com Article: Pentagon Seeks to Use Foreign Airlines > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:04:23 -0700 > From: David MR <damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: Re: Spain's crown prince in snit at MIA > > > Members of the prince's entourage called the required inspection > of their > > private belongings an ''insult'' and ''humiliating'' -- sparking a > > diplomatic flap that has the United States and Spain on the brink of a > > protocol war. > Too bad. If I, as a citizen of this country, must be inspected, then > foreigners not travelling on official state business need to be inspected > too. > > > Crowning it off, Iberia Airlines, the prince's carrier of choice, > is > > suggesting it might pull out of the airport, according to two sources > close > > to the international incident. > They were threatening this long before Prince Buffo came along. > > > Now, Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas has sent the Prince of > Asturias, next in > > line for the throne, an apology, saying he's asked for an investigation > into > > what went wrong. > The mayor is an IDIOT! Just because this guy is a prince doesn't give him > any special privleges. If he doesn't wan to be inspected, fly on a private > aircraft. > > > Whether the prince gave U.S. diplomatic officials enough notice of > his > > arrival is at the heart of the problem. > > The U.S. State Department requires 72 hours notice to arrange for > expedited > > security screening in a private area. The prince's people called with six > > hours notice. > > When members of the royal party were told that they and their > carry-ons > > would have to be searched -- just like the masses -- the royal flap > erupted. > > ''We're your allies!'' one member of the royal delegation shouted > in > > Spanish to inspectors at a particularly tense moment. > Then follow the rules, you Royal Stupidness. > > > > The need by the princess-to-be to go the powder room caused > another > > flare-up. Ortiz was told her already-searched purse would be searched > again > > on her return from the nonsecure area. She decided to hold it. > > That sparked more angry words and exchanges, delaying the process > and > > making the entire royal party late for the flight, which waited. > > At one point, Milton Oribe, Iberia's station manager, said he > would ignore > > the required screening, come what may, witnesses said. > > Oribe also offered to vouch for the prince and his entourage, > adding that > > he would see to it that the Spanish carrier withdrew from MIA, according > to > > witnesses on the scene. > Gee. Wish I could get someone to vouch for me. > > > Mayor Penelas, calling the brouhaha a ''lamentable situation,'' > immediately > > sent a letter of apology to the the royal family and pointed out those > doing > > the screening were federal employees. > Again, the mayor is an idiot for sending an apology. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:11:09 -0700 > From: David MR <damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: Re: NYTimes.com Article: Pentagon Seeks to Use Foreign Airlines > > > Specifically, the Defense Department is seeking to repeal > > Section 2710 of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental > > Appropriations Act of 2003. That section requires that > > contracts be awarded to air carriers with American > > ownership of 50 percent or more. That is the level that is > > required for airlines to be certified as domestic carriers > > by the Transportation Department. > The correct figures is 51% American owned. > > > > > > The Pentagon already has the ability to grant contracts to > > foreign airlines case by case if no American carrier is > > willing to assume the risk of a flight. In the past, the > > Pentagon has chartered flights by Volga Dnepr Airlines of > > Russia and Ukrainian Cargo Airways. > I'm sure the Pentagon contracted with these two airlines not because other > airlines were "(un)willing to assume the risk of a flight." They probably > used them because their aircraft can take oversized cargo. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 20:18:24 -0700 > From: Matthew Montano <mmontano@xxxxxxxxx> > Subject: Re: Spain's crown prince in snit at MIA > > Unfortunately, this is rather the tip of the iceberg. > > What happened is not surprising, but the reaction and coverage to the > incident (no matter which angle you take), is making the situation > worse. > > For the longest time, America, (especially major gateway airports such > as MIA and JFK) has been viewed as a major transportation point between > the America's (South & North) and the rest of the world. (Heck, even > geographically disadvantaged MIA is viewed as a hub for the caribbean.) > America's previously fair and free immigration policies supported such > in-transits with ease. > > But with recent immigration policy changes, (good intentions, poor > execution IMHO), being an in-transit passenger is now a risky exercise. > A Canadian citizen, Maher Arar, was intransit through JFK from vacation > back to Canada. He was 'deported' from the US (not that he really > wanted to enter the country), not to his home country, but back to > Syria! (where he also held citizenship, and admittedly his background > is a bit hazy, but his home WAS in Ottawa.) > > My recent trip to Trinidad encountered several well-to-do individuals > who used to make frequent shopping trips to the US, or travel through > MIA or JFK to get to far-flung parts of the world. Almost all of the > have clearly indicated they have been taking their shopping dollars > elsewhere and now traveling through cities like Frankfurt, Toronto and > London to get where they want to go. > > The impact will not be immediate, but I'm sure AA is watching their > international connecting traffic drop, as is Iberia looking to move > their Latin America hub or close it down entirely. > > It shall be interesting, and it's also hard to reverse. > > Matthew > > On Apr 12, 2004, at 6:04 PM, David MR wrote: > > >> Members of the prince's entourage called the required > >> inspection > > of their > >> private belongings an ''insult'' and ''humiliating'' -- sparking a > >> diplomatic flap that has the United States and Spain on the brink of a > >> protocol war. > > Too bad. If I, as a citizen of this country, must be inspected, then > > foreigners not travelling on official state business need to be > > inspected > > too. > > > >> Crowning it off, Iberia Airlines, the prince's carrier of > >> choice, > > is > >> suggesting it might pull out of the airport, according to two sources > > close > >> to the international incident. > > They were threatening this long before Prince Buffo came along. > > > >> Now, Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas has sent the Prince of > > Asturias, next in > >> line for the throne, an apology, saying he's asked for an > >> investigation > > into > >> what went wrong. > > The mayor is an IDIOT! Just because this guy is a prince doesn't give > > him > > any special privleges. If he doesn't wan to be inspected, fly on a > > private > > aircraft. > > > >> Whether the prince gave U.S. diplomatic officials enough > >> notice of > > his > >> arrival is at the heart of the problem. > >> The U.S. State Department requires 72 hours notice to arrange > >> for > > expedited > >> security screening in a private area. The prince's people called with > >> six > >> hours notice. > >> When members of the royal party were told that they and their > > carry-ons > >> would have to be searched -- just like the masses -- the royal flap > > erupted. > >> ''We're your allies!'' one member of the royal delegation > >> shouted > > in > >> Spanish to inspectors at a particularly tense moment. > > Then follow the rules, you Royal Stupidness. > > > > > >> The need by the princess-to-be to go the powder room caused > > another > >> flare-up. Ortiz was told her already-searched purse would be searched > > again > >> on her return from the nonsecure area. She decided to hold it. > >> That sparked more angry words and exchanges, delaying the > >> process > > and > >> making the entire royal party late for the flight, which waited. > >> At one point, Milton Oribe, Iberia's station manager, said he > > would ignore > >> the required screening, come what may, witnesses said. > >> Oribe also offered to vouch for the prince and his entourage, > > adding that > >> he would see to it that the Spanish carrier withdrew from MIA, > >> according > > to > >> witnesses on the scene. > > Gee. Wish I could get someone to vouch for me. > > > >> Mayor Penelas, calling the brouhaha a ''lamentable > >> situation,'' > > immediately > >> sent a letter of apology to the the royal family and pointed out those > > doing > >> the screening were federal employees. > > Again, the mayor is an idiot for sending an apology. > > ------------------------------ > > End of AIRLINE Digest - 12 Apr 2004 (#2004-156) > ***********************************************