Heading for Cuba - AIN

U.S. Airlines Line Up for Rights to Serve Destinations in Cuba

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) expects to decide this summer on which U.S. airlines and routes will serve Cuba after the two countries signed an historic agreement last month to restore scheduled air services. While U.S. carriers indicated that they could begin flights soon thereafter, approval for Cuban-owned carriers to serve the U.S. was not imminent. Following the U.S.-Cuba accord, the DOT set a March 2 deadline for U.S. carriers to apply for flight allocations. American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country and Dynamic airlines, regional carrier Silver Airways, cargo carrier FedEx Express and charter carrier Eastern Air Lines submitted applications by that date, attesting to their appraisals of the pent-up demand for travel. Comments on the applications are due March 14.