As part of the Obama Administration’s overall effort to normalize relations, six USA airlines are now cleared for takeoff to Cuba, with the flights coming from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Philadelphia and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
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As early as this fall, 90 roundtrips flights between the US and nine Cuban worldwide airports could be available every day.
A decision on Havana routes will be announced later this summer, the DOT said.
Philadelphia is one of five USA cities where scheduled commercial air service to Cuba will begin as early as this fall. The U.S. departure cities are Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In an historic move, the US Department of Transportation has granted multiple commercial flight frequencies between the United States and Cuba.
There will be 90 round-trip flights between the cities when the agreement goes into effect.
The U.S. agreed to re-establish scheduled air service between the two countries in February.
Reopening relations with Cuba remains hotly debated in Congress between those supporting Obama’s diplomatic overtures and those arguing that Cuba remains a repressive dictatorship. American tourism without any other reason is not yet legal in Cuba.
No other airline will handle flights to Cuba out of MIA, and American Airlines did not secure any other flights from other US airports. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger at a hearing Tuesday that he was concerned about resuming scheduled flights. Flights to Havana have not yet been approved, but officials said they are coming. The first scheduled flights are expected to start sometime this fall. “It’s time for Congress to act and end the travel ban”. The flights will be on Airbus A320 or A320neo aircraft. “Most of the airlines propose to begin their services in the fall and winter of 2016/2017, and will likely begin selling tickets well in advance of their planned startup dates”, according to the DOT. The airline will use 34-seat Saab 340B Plus turboprop aircraft. Some of the airlines have been working for months on logistics and have told the department they could start flying in as few as 60 days. Flights will be on 126-seat 737-700 and 162-seat 737-800 aircraft. “Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, and Orlando, for which we are awaiting DOT authority”, the airline said in a statement. The Broward airport will not only feature more competition between airlines but also offer more flights to more locations within Cuba.
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Travel to Cuba is allowed only for 12 preapproved reasons, including visiting family or religious, educational or cultural reasons. Eastern is seeking permission to fly three times a week from Miami to Holguin and Miami to Camaguey.
