Approximately one year after a historic re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is ready to resume commercial air travel between the two nations.
The department received proposals from 12 different airlines, with a combined request of 60 flights per day, but under the aviation agreement that was settled between the U.S. and Cuba in February, only 20 daily flights are permitted.
The DOT’s final decision will be announced later this summer after the airlines have a chance to object.
Under the current recommendation, eight airlines will fly to Havana from 10 U.S. cities.
Passengers will be able to choose between three airlines in Ft. Lauderdale: Southwest, Spirit, and JetBlue, each flying twice per day; three airlines from Miami, including four flights by American, and one each by Delta and Frontier; and finally in Florida, Southwest will offer one flight out of Tampa each day while JetBlue offers one from Orlando.
Delta and JetBlue will service one flight each day to Havana from NY JFK, while United will service one flight to Havana at nearby Newark Liberty Airport.
Delta, American, and Alaska airlines will service one daily flight each to the Cuban capital from Atlanta, Charlotte, and Los Angeles, respectively.
Finally, there will be one weekly flight to Havana from Houston.
The DOT explained its reasoning for selecting each route and carrier, “The department’s principal objective in making its proposed selections was to maximize public benefits, including choosing airlines that offered and could maintain the best ongoing service between the U.S. and Havana.”
Showing favor toward larger cities scattered across the U.S., the DOT hopes to encourage competition between airlines while providing diverse travel options for anyone wanting to visit our new friends in Cuba.
