Christie opposes United flights between Newark and Cuba

Christie opposes United flights between Newark and Cuba
By Matt Arco and Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 20, 2015 at 6:43 PM, updated October 21, 2015 at 12:46 AM

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday told the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey it would be "unacceptable" to begin operating
flights between Newark's airport and Cuba.

In a letter to Port Authority Chairman John Degnan, his appointee, the
governor urged Port Authority commissioners to reject the proposed
flights, arguing that permitting them would be akin to "rewarding the
Cuban government for continuing to harbor a fugitive."

Christie, who has been an outspoken critic of President Obama's moves to
normalize relations with Cuba, has blasted the president for not
demanding fugitive Joanne Chesimard return to the United States.
Chesimard escaped to Cuba after being convicted in 1977 of killing a New
Jersey state trooper and has been living in the country since.

RELATED: Obama 'dead wrong' on opening Cuba embassy, Christie says
"I understand that the Port Authority is considering a request to open
regular flights between Cuba and Newark Liberty International Airport,"
the governor and Republican presidential candidate wrote in the letter,
obtained by NJ Advance Media. "It is unacceptable to me as governor to
have any flights between New Jersey and Cuba until, and unless,
convicted cop-killer and escaped fugitive Joanne Chesimard is returned
to New Jersey to face justice."

Christie's office declined to comment on the letter.

Degnan said in an interview that United Airlines had applied with
federal officials for permission to begin Cuba service, and that the
carrier asked the Port Authority for a letter in support of its
application, which the agency provided.

Degnan said the request from United did not come before the agency's
board of commissioners, and instead was dealt within internally by the
agency's aviation department.

However, with the governor's interest in the subject, Degnan said the
board was now likely to get involved, possibly at its regular monthly
meeting Thursday.

"I think the governor's strongly expressed opinion requires that we
immediately look very closely into this request by United for a flight
to Havana from Newark and that review should be within a couple of
days," Degan said.

United issued a statement acknowledging it has sought support for the
Cuba route from the Port Authority, a common move for any airline
seeking to establish a new route regardless of the destination.

"We asked the Port Authority to seek authorization from Customs & Border
Protection for Newark Liberty to serve as a gateway for U.S.–Cuba
service, subject to an air service agreement being reached between the
two countries," United said. "We remain very interested in serving Cuba
as soon as we are able to do so, and believe United's service would
benefit the airport and the region.

JetBlue operates charter service between Havana and John F. Kennedy
International Airport in Queens, which is also operated by the Port
Authority.

In July, Christie said Obama was "dead wrong" for permitting the United
States and Cuba to open embassies in their capital cities, and for
normalizing relations with Cuba.

The governor, while on the campaign trail, accused United States
citizens traveling to Cuba amid Obama's plans to normalize relations
with the country of "participating in the oppression" imposed by Cuba's
rulers.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on
Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Source: Christie opposes United flights between Newark and Cuba | NJ.com
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