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American Airlines hit with Helms Burton Cuba lawsuit
American Airlines is the latest US company to be sued under the controversial Helms Burton Act for property seized during the Cuban Revolution.
José Ramon López Regueiro filed a lawsuit against American and LATAM Airlines seeking compensation for their use of Havana’s José Martí International Airport, which he says belonged to his father.
American is the first US airline to be embroiled in the legal fight for compensation for descendants of Cuban property owners, but likely won’t be the last.
Attorney Andrés Rivero says there are more than 50 airlines usinng the airport and they have been sent notice that they will also be sued.
The suit demands the airline stop operating at José Martí International Airport.
The Trump Administration controversially allowed citizens to sue companies using facilities that were seized by the Castro regime in the 1960s.
The US government says there are about 6,000 claims to property when the Helms Burton Act was first brought in back in 1996 but the Title III amendment was only authorized by the government earlier this year, allowing claimants to sue companies.
Cruise lines and hotels such as Carnival and Melia have been named in lawsuits so far.
American Airlines maintains it is exempt from Title III and cannot be held accountable.
"American Airlines’ service to Cuba including José Martí International Airport in Havana is authorized by the U.S. government including the Department of Transportation and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control," an American spokesperson said.
"Title III specifically exempts lawful travel, which is what American provides. We’ll review this lawsuit in detail and vigorously defend our service to Cuba."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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