Havana Airlines announced Monday it will start offering real-time online booking for flights to Cuba beginning Jan. 1.
The Miami-based airline will launch the service on its website next Friday, making it the first company to do so since U.S. and Cuban officials confirmed last week that regularly scheduled commercial flights would resume in the coming months.
A number of companies are fighting for a piece of the new market, including Silver Airways, JetBlue and United.
Long-time charter flight maven American Airlines said last week it is in the middle of negotiations with Cuban and U.S. Department of Transportation officials.
While tourism in Cuba is still illegal for Americans, the Obama administration eased the rules to let people visit the island for any of 12 authorized reasons for travel, by letting people go for cultural, educational and other reasons without having to first get permission from the government.
Havana Air will offer more than 85 charter flights to Cuba every month. American Airlines has offered 14 flights per week since 1991.
