Press Releases

Bangor International Airport (pictured) loses 200 flights a year because of outdated regulations that Reps. Pingree and Poliquin are hoping to change.

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Congressman Bruce Poliquin introduced legislation in the House that will reform outdated airport regulations to incentivize business growth and create jobs in Maine and in other cities across the United States.
 
The Insourcing American Airport Jobs Act will update regulations that are causing American airports, like Bangor International Airport, and their communities to forfeit business to Canada.
 
European charter flights frequently land on the East Coast to refuel, take on food and exchange crew but flights bound for Cuba are currently prohibited from stopping in the United States. Airline companies prefer that all their flights transit through the same airport and consequently many have moved all of their flights to Canada in order to comply with the current restrictive rules.  Estimates suggest that Bangor International Airport alone loses out on more than 200 flights a year because of these regulations.
 
This legislation will allow flights bound for Cuba, to make “technical stops” at American airports—meaning they may take on food, refuel, and exchange crew.  Passengers would be unable to clear immigration or depart from the U.S.
 
"It just doesn't make sense to chase away business from airports like Bangor because of some bureaucratic, out-of-date regulations," said Congresswoman Pingree.  "Thousands of tourists are passing over the United States on their way to Cuba every day, and if they have to stop somewhere, why not let it be Bangor?"
 
“Right now, flights that would otherwise stop at American airports, such as Bangor International Airport, for fueling and routine procedures are going to Canadian locations because of outdated policies,” said Congressman Poliquin.  “In many cases, airlines would prefer to use American airports for these stops, but are restricted because of current rules.  I am pleased to introduce this legislation which will insource jobs to Maine by revising these outdated regulations.”
 
This bill does not make any change to the status of the Cuban embargo.  It simply recognizes that, with or without the embargo, flights will make transit stops—and allows the United States, not just Canada, to benefit.