These US Airlines Want To Fly To Cuba

a group of people walking in a courtyard

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In the middle of February the United States signed an agreement with Cuba to re-establish scheduled air services between the two countries. Charter flights between the US And Cuba have existed for some time (American Airlines even has a dedicated page to such flights) but the last scheduled, regular flights between the two countries took place over half a century ago….so this is a pretty big deal.

Since the agreement was announced, U.S. carriers have been falling over themselves to submit applications to the Department of Transportation for routes they’d like to fly between the U.S. and Cuba but, because of the details in the agreement, the airlines are not guaranteed to get the routes they want.

The US/Cuba agreement allows for 20 daily flights to Havana and 10 daily flights to nine other airports on the island. However, such is the anticipated demand for travel to Cuba, the major US airlines have submitted requests that would far exceed that quota.

havana-old-carsYou can’t have an article about Cuba without a picture of some old cars – it’s the rules! (Image courtesy of Angelo Domini via Flickr)

What The US Airlines Have Requested

Alaska Airlines

  • Los Angeles – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)

American Airlines

  • Miami – Havana (10x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Charlotte – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Dallas – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Los Angeles – Havana (1x Weekly non-stop flight)
  • Chicago – Havana (1x Weekly flight non-stop flight)
  • Miami – Santa Clara (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Miami – Holguin (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Miami – Varadero (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Miami – Camaguey (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Miami – Cienfuegos (1x Daily non-stop flight)

Delta

  • Miami – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Atlanta – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • New York (JFK) – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Orlando – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)

JetBlue

  • New York (JFK) – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Havana (4x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Orlando – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Tampa – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Newark – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Boston – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Camaguey (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Holguin (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Santa Clara (1x Daily non-stop flight)

Southwest

  • Fort Lauderdale – Havana (6x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Tampa – Havana (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Orlando – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Varadero (2x Daily non-stop flights)
  • Fort Lauderdale – Santa Clara (1x Daily non-stop flight)

United

  • Newark – Havana (1x Daily non-stop flight)
  • Houston – Havana (1x Weekly non-stop flight (Sat))
  • Washington (IAD) – Havana (1x Weekly non-stop flight (Sat))
  • Chicago (ORD) – Havana (1x Weekly non-stop flight (Sat))

When Will We Know The Winners/Losers

CNN has reported that the airline bidding process will likely last until the middle of March and they’re quoting a US official with direct knowledge of the agreement as saying that the Department of Transportation could award routes and slots to specific carriers as soon as this summer.

Scheduled services are not expected to commence before October 2016.

cuba-beach-nick-kenrickA beach on Cuba – courtesy of Nick Kenrick via Flickr

A Small Sticking Point

US tourists are still not free to travel to Cuba as a 50+ year embargo is still in place. This seems a bit farcical to me but welcome to the world of politics everyone!

Under the new agreement visitors that fall into one of 12 categories will be allowed to travel on the scheduled flights and it’s when you take a close look at the 12 categories that you begin to realise just how pathetic the continuing embargo on tourists is……look at how broad some of these categories are:

  • Visiting family
  • Workers on humanitarian projects or those providing support to the Cuban people
  • Official business of the U.S. government
  • Foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations
  • Journalistic activities
  • Professional research
  • Educational activities by persons at academic institutions
  • People-to-people travel
  • Religious activities
  • Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions and exhibitions
  • Those authorized to provide travel services, carrier services and remittance-forwarding services
  • Those participating in activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes
  • Those involved in exportation of certain Internet-based services.

What’s people-to-people travel?! 

According to this website this is what it is:

People-to-People travel is an initiative allowing U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba on a limited basis to participate in cultural experiences and have direct contact with the Cuban people to learn more about them and their culture, while they learn about the American way of life. This is a highly rewarding educational experience, where you enjoy direct engagement with the Cuban people you will meet. IE’s people-to-people activities focus on education and cultural exchange as you meet Cuban birders, volunteers, scientists and more.

So basically anyone can go!

I wonder if booking a room in someone’s home via AirBnB counts as people-to-people travel?

havana-sunset-jaume-escofetHavana Sunset courtesy of Jaume Escofet via Flickr

Bottom Line

Leaving aside the blatant stupidity of the current legislation it’s clear that everyone will soon be able to visit Cuba on scheduled flights from on of the major US cities.

Let’s face it, the US airlines aren’t bidding for all these routes just to ferry families visiting loved ones in Cuba and a few journalists and academics…the Cuban tourist explosion has started.

Cuba is a place I’ve been meaning to visit for while and, as I have more than one passport, it’s one I really should have visited quite some time ago. Now the countdown to commercialisation and eventual Americanization is in full flow so, for those of you wanting to see a bit of the real Cuba (i.e. the one without a Starbucks or McDonald’s on every corner), I’d start making plans sooner than later.

For those of you more comfortable with Hard Rock Cafes and Burger King…don’t worry, unfortunately, you’ll be getting your wish very soon.

Featured image courtesy of Nick Kenrick via Flickr

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