U.S. airlines chosen for scheduled flights to Cuba

WASHINGTON — Six U.S. airlines were approved to begin the first scheduled flights to Cuba in more than 50 years, the Transportation Department announced Friday.

The airlines were approved to fly from five U.S. cities to nine Cuban cities other than Havana. But the department is still considering which airlines will get a combined 20 daily flights to the capital out of nearly 60 proposed flights, which will be announced later this summer.

The carriers approved Friday are American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines.

The 155 combined weekly flights are expected to begin in the fall and winter, and will depart from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. While charter flights have been allowed for years, the announcement resumes scheduled airline flights.

U.S. airlines fight for rights to Cuba

The nine destinations in Cuba are Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguín, Manzanillo, Santa Clara, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero. Each city could have received up to 10 U.S. flights per day, but the approvals Friday weren't contested.

The flights are part of President Obama’s “new journey” with the Cuban people, as part of normalizing relations since relations broke down after the Communist revolution of 1959, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.

He and Charles Rivkin, assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, reached an agreement in February to reestablish flights.

“Today, we are delivering on his promise by re-launching scheduled air service to Cuba after more than half a century,” he said.

Reopening relations with Cuba remains hotly debated in Congress between those supporting Obama’s diplomatic overtures and those arguing that Cuba remains a repressive dictatorship. Travelers to Cuba must still name one of a dozen reasons for the visit other than tourism.

The Transportation Security Administration must still review security at Cuban airports before flights directly to the U.S. are allowed. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger at a hearing Tuesday that he was concerned about resuming scheduled flights.

"I want to express my concern right now that we be sure that those airports are fully vetted and they have the proper security screening in place," he said.

But James Williams, president of the group Engage Cuba, a coalition of businesses and organizations seeking to end the trade embargo with Cuba, said Friday the scheduled flights prove the travel ban “is an outdated relic of the Cold War era.”

“It's time for Congress to act and end the travel ban," he said.

Flights approved Friday:

• American daily between Miami and Camaguey and Cienfuegos, twice daily between Miami and Holguin, Santa Clara and Varadero. Flights are proposed to begin in 90 days aboard 160-seat 737-800 aircraft and 144-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

• Frontier daily between Chicago O'Hare and Santiago de Cuba beginning Oct. 27, four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between Philadelphia and Camaguey beginning Dec. 15; three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between Philadelphia and Santa Clara beginning Dec. 15; and weekly flights on Saturdays between O'Hare and Philadelphia and Varadero starting Jan. 7, 2017. The flights will be on Airbus A320 or A320neo aircraft.

• JetBlue daily between Fort Lauderdale and Camaguey, Holguin and Santa Clara beginning Sept. 8 aboard 162-seat A320 aircraft. Flights are expected to  begin within 100 days.

• Silver from Fort Lauderdale five times weekly other than Mondays and Fridays to Camaguey beginning Sept. 22; three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Cayo Coco beginning Nov. 17; weekly on Saturdays to Cayo Largo del Sur beginning Dec. 8; twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays to Cienfuegos beginning Oct. 6; daily to Holguin beginning Oct. 20; three times weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Manzanillo beginning Dec. 15; four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Varadero beginning Dec. 1; daily to Santa Clara beginning  Sept. 8 and daily to Santiago de Cuba beginning Nov. 3. The airline will use 34-seat Saab 340B Plus turboprop aircraft.

• Southwest from Fort Lauderdale twice daily to Varadero and daily to  Santa Clara aboard 143-seat 737-700 aircraft. Flights are expected to start within 90 days.

• Sun Country from Minneapolis weekly on Saturdays to Varadero and on Sundays to Santa Clara. Flights will be on 126-seat 737-700 and 162-seat 737-800 aircraft.

“The resumption of scheduled air service to Cuba is a historic achievement and we commend Secretary Foxx and his team for making it a reality," said Steve Johnson, American's executive vice president of corporate affairs.

Silver is the only airline that will serve all nine cities available, which CEO Sami Tettinen said reaffirms the airline’s reputation for service between Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba.

“This is truly a historic moment and a major win for the large Cuban American population interested in visiting the many destinations in Cuba beyond Havana,” Teittenen said, while also waiting for approval of Havana service.

Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, said the three cities his airline will serve cover diverse parts of “the authentic island,” with Colonial architecture in Camaguey and Holguin, and one of the most respected universities in  Santa Clara.

“We have been entrusted to put our mission of inspiring humanity to work,” Hayes said.

Zarir Erani, CEO of Sun Country, said the airline is evaluating its aircraft to determine when to begin flights.

U.S.: Flights to Cuba expected to begin by fall