Americans interested in flying to Cuba could now have 20 new opportunities to do so.
The Department of Transportation announced Thursday 20 new daily flights to Havana. Tentatively, eight airlines will serve 10 U.S. cities in offering 20 flights to the island nation’s capital.
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The airlines receiving the tentative flight awards are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.
.@SecretaryFoxx Proposes U.S. Airlines and Cities for New Scheduled Service to Havana https://t.co/z8nHd6qmCI pic.twitter.com/r9NEp6SNxy
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) July 7, 2016
American Airlines plans to fly from Miami to Havana four times daily, for example. The airline will also offer a flight from Charlotte to Havana.
“These flights open the door to a new world of travel and opportunities for our customers,” Oscar Munoz, United Airlines’ president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are proud of the important and historic role our airline will play in connecting the U.S. and Cuba, as commercial air travel takes flight between these countries for the first time in more than 50 years.”
United expects to begin its first nonstop flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston to Cuba later this year, making it the first airline to offer U.S.-Havana service from outside Florida, it said.
Last month, the DOT approved six U.S. airlines’ applications to serve cities in Cuba other than Havana.
The DOT reminded the U.S. public in its Thursday announcement that travel restrictions remain for Cuba and travel for tourist activities is prohibited by statute.
A final decision on airlines, flights and cities is expected by summer’s end.
