Nearly every big U.S. airline plans to apply for Cuba flights

The United States and Cuba officially signed an aviation agreement Tuesday that paves the way for the first regularly scheduled flights between the countries in nearly five decades.

The deal opens up 110 flights to Cuba on U.S. carriers. Of those, 20 will be to Havana. Beyond the 20 allocated for Havana, there will be 10 daily flights allowed on routes to each of Cuba's nine other international airports.

The Associated Press writes Tuesday's announcement opens “a 15-day window for U.S. airlines to request rights to the new Cuba routes. U.S. carriers would then have to strike deals with Cuban aviation officials, a process the U.S. hopes will be complete by the fall.”

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

Still, even as restrictions to Cuba are eased, conditions remain. U.S. travelers must still certify theirs trip are for one of 12 purposes. Tourism itself is not permitted. But the only existing flights to Cuba are sold by charter outfits. Regularly scheduled passenger flights that are sold and marketed by the big U.S. carriers are sure to ease trip planning.

And, against that backdrop, nearly every big U.S. airline said it would apply for at least some Cuba routes.

American, the USA’s biggest carrier, was among those affirming its interest in applying for the newly available routes to Cuba.

Cuba deal will allow 110 daily flights; Will airline bidding battle follow?

American said it will definitely apply for flights to Cuba from its hub at Miami, already one of the USA’s leading gateways to the Caribbean and Latin America. Additionally, American said in a statement that it is “also considering applying to serve Cuba from other hubs.”

Other airlines rushed out similar announcements.

Among those was JetBlue, one of the fastest growing carriers in the Caribbean this decade.

JetBlue indicated it would seek approval for multiple routes between the nations, echoing comments it has made previously about its intentions for Cuba.

“JetBlue eagerly awaits the opportunity to grow our service with regularly scheduled routes between various U.S. and Cuban cities,” Rob Land, JetBlue’s senior vice president government affairs, said in a statement. “We hope the next dots on our Caribbean route map will be regularly scheduled service to and from Cuba.”

Delta Air Lines joined the list, saying it would apply for Cuba flights from its main hub in Atlanta. The carrier indicated Cuba flights would be considered from its other hubs, too.

“The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to notify applying airlines by summer which frequencies and routes are approved,” Joe Esposito, Delta’s Vice President - Network Planning, said in a statement. “In the meantime Delta is diligently preparing to serve the market.”

United Airlines said it “intends to apply to offer service between some of its global gateways and Havana … .” United did not specify which hubs it would seek approval for.

United has positioned its hub at Houston Bush Intercontinental as a major gateway to Latin America, so it would come as little surprise if Houston entered the mix for United. The same is true for United’s hub at Newark Liberty, one of the main airports serving New York City – North American’s top aviation market.

Southwest’s statement read a bit more cautiously than its rivals, saying only that Tuesday’s “signed agreement allows us to engage in a process to consider that service.” Still, it would not be a surprise if Southwest sought flights to Cuba.

Even Spirit Airlines – the USA’s biggest “ultra low-cost carrier – said it would to enter the bidding, with spokesman Paul Berry telling AP the carrier plans to submit a proposal. Spirit's operates its busiest hub at Fort Lauderdale, from where it flies to numerous destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines sounded a slightly more cautious tone on Cuba.

“We are currently evaluating whether this is the right opportunity for Alaska,” spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said in a statement to Today in the Sky. Alaska Air’s two biggest hubs are in Seattle and Portland, two markets that may not be the most obvious gateways for Cuba.

Given the limited number of Havana slots, it is possible that U.S. carriers will wage aggressive campaigns to win those rights. It's unclear just how much demand U.S. airlines might have for the flights to the nine other Cuban airports.

China and Japan have been among the most coveted restricted markets during the past two decades, with U.S. airlines aggressively bidding on high-profile new routes as they've become available to places like Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. And, during the past year, relations between American and Delta have even become testy as those carriers have argued about the rights for a daily round-trip to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

That type of competition could emerge for the new flights that will soon be allowed to Cuba. Nearly every big airline presumably will want access to Havana, but the 20 daily flights could get chewed up quickly – especially if airlines request multiple daily flights from more than one hub.

Stay tuned ...

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