The United States and Cuba signed a deal Tuesday that allows US commercial airlines to make up to 110 daily flights to the communist island, the most significant new business link between the two countries since the end of their five-decade Cold War-era hostilities.
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Currently, charter flights are the only ones operating between Cuba and the U.S. Some airlines had already offered charter flights prior to the agreement, including American Airlines, which has offered charter flights since April 1991. Immediately following the signing, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) invited US air carriers to apply for an allocation of the new opportunities to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights. However, once commercial flights start transporting people between the nations, hundreds of thousands of US travelers are expected to pour into the country each year, since the travel process will be much easier. American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said his company has plans to bid on routes from Miami and other unspecified American hubs.
United States Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Cuban Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez signed the agreement in a ceremony at Havana’s Hotel Nacional on Tuesday. They need to fit one of 12 categories laid out by the Treasury Department, which include but are not limited to family visits, official visits of the US government, journalistic activity, religious activities, workshops, performances and clinics.
A number of USA carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines and JetBlue, have expressed an interest in bidding on routes to Havana.
The 20 flights per day to Havana are expected to be highly sought-after by most United States carriers. “We applaud the administration for making commercial air service a priority and we thank Secretary Foxx, Secretary Kerry, and their teams for their leadership in finalizing this arrangement”. The agreement does not limit charter services, meaning that no DOT route awards are needed, and charter flights can continue as before.
A USA plane in the La Habana airport.
“And also allowed to fly 10 scheduled frequencies per day to any other city in Cuba that has an airport open to worldwide service”.
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Despite the restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba past year, Washington did not allow its citizens to visit Cuba for tourism.
