“We are excited to announce the availability of new scheduled air service opportunities to Cuba for U.S. carriers, shippers, and the traveling public”, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, in a news release. Under the US- Cuba commercial air flights deal, U.S. airlines can begin bidding on routes to as many as 110-U.S.-Cuba flights in a single day. The coming weeks are seen as particularly crucial to building momentum ahead of a trip he hopes to make to Havana by the end of March.
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That would mark Delta’s return to Cuba after operating charter flights to the country in 2011 and 2012. So companies such ABC Charters, Havana Air and Cuba Travel Services, which serve as brokers between buyers and the airlines that fly to the island nation, can continue flying without going through the new DOT application process.
United Airlines, which has a major presence at Washington Dulles International Airport, also signaled its interest in the routes, but declined to say which US airport the flights would operate from.
United States airlines have operated charter flights to the country for years, but purchasing those tickets was hard and highly restricted. There have been no scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba for over half a century.
They may also “fly 10 scheduled frequencies per day to any other city in Cuba that has an airport open to global service”.
Once the deal is signed, United States authorities will immediately invite American airlines to submit applications to operate the flights. “It represents a critically important milestone in the US effort to engage with Cuba”.
As announced earlier, negotiators of the two countries reached an understanding on this issue and, after the corresponding steps, the final document will be signed on Tuesday.
However, the number of legal reasons for U.S. travellers to go to Cuba have been widely extended and are loosely enforced.
Direct commercial flights between the United States and Cuba are set to resume for the first time in over 50 years.
As for United Airlines, they have previously hinted that their hub in Houston is the primary choice to have the first flights to Cuba.
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For the routes to areas outside Havana, Mr. Belford said, the U.S. could decide to award those flights before the summer because there likely won’t be as much competition.
