WASHINGTON, US--The competition to attract American tourists to Caribbean islands that so heavily depend on tourism is about to get tougher.
Six American airlines were given a tentative nod Thursday to begin scheduled flights into Cuba from several US cities, from as early as this fall, as part of President Barack Obama’s efforts to normalise relations with the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation.
The announcement by US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx that Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines have been awarded routes between Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Newark, New Jersey; New York City, New York; and Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, and Havana, came nearly one year after the diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established.
“Today we take another important step toward delivering on President Obama’s promise to reengage Cuba,” Foxx said. “Restoring regular air service holds tremendous potential to reunite Cuban American families and foster education and opportunities for American businesses of all sizes.”
A dozen US airlines had applied for the chance to operate scheduled passenger and cargo service to Havana. Collectively, they applied for nearly 60 flights per day to Havana, exceeding the 20 daily flights made available by arrangement between the two governments.
On February 16, Secretary Foxx and Department of State Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin signed an arrangement with their Cuban counterparts opening the way for scheduled air service between the two countries to resume after more than 50 years.
This new arrangement will facilitate visits for travellers that fall under one of the 12 categories authorised by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. At the time of the signing, the Administration announced that scheduled service would begin later in 2016. ~ Caribbean360 ~
