I came home to Cuba in seat 4B Wednesday on the first commercial flight from the U.S.in more than half a century.
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Transportation Secretary Anthony FoxxAnthony FoxxUS finalizes flights to Cuba’s capital Commercial US flight lands in Cuba for first time in 50 years Feds funnel almost M toward DC Metro safety efforts MORE made the milestone announcement from Cuba after he boarded a 150-passenger JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Santa Clara.
DOT’s main objective in making its selections was to maximize public benefits, including choosing airlines that offered and could maintain the best service between the US and Havana.
Earlier this summer, the Transportation Department approved six US passenger airlines including JetBlue and one all-cargo airline to serve cities in Cuba other than Havana. Regular travelers, including some of Cuban descent, were to occupy almost half the seats on a route that may be a commercial challenge, at least initially.
An average of 18 charter flights from the US already arrive at Cuban airports daily, but that number should substantially decrease with the start of regular flights.
“Today’s commercial flight to Cuba is an exciting milestone in the journey to fully normalize ties between the United States and Cuba”.
A burly, bearded Cuban-American flight attendant nearly choked up as he told us, “We are really excited that this happened for Cubans and for people from the United States as well”.
The mood aboard Wednesday’s flight from Fort Lauderdale was celebratory, and tinged with imagery from the era when Cuba was the United States’ tropical backyard escape.
“Travel. will build bridges between our people, and bring more revenue to those Cuban small businesses”, said President Barack Obama on his historic trip to Cuba in March, which was part of sweeping changes the White House has introduced over the last two years to restore relations between the two countries. Washington still bans Americans from visiting Cuba as tourists, but travel is permitted for 12 other categories, including cultural and educational exchange. The Obama administration has further eased the restrictions. The return flights trace the same route in the other direction. “Two, I want to be on this historic flight”.
Wednesday’s JetBlue flight was flown by Captain Mark Luaces and First Officer Francisco Barreras, both Americans of Cuban descent, the airline said.
“We’re just going to see where the world takes us”, Locke said. “You need to get your foot in the door”. Three other carriers will follow.
The Fort Lauderdale airport was in full party mode near Jet Blue’s departure area – a live salsa band blared Cuban favorites as passengers and bystanders broke into spontaneous dances.
Flight 387 is the first direct US commercial flight to touch down in Cuba in more than 50 years. “We have the third largest Cuban-American population in the USA, so we’re a natural market for this service”.
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American Airlines, the U.S.’s largest carrier, will fly to Cuba on September 7.
