U.S. airlines now flying to Havana for first time in five decades

U.S. airlines are flying regularly scheduled passenger flights to Havana for the first time in more than 50 years.

Flights to smaller cities in Cuba had resumed earlier this year, but service to the Cuban capital was the last to begin under a new aviation pact agreed to by the Obama administration.

American was first to land in Havana, with a flight from Miami arriving to a water-cannon salute early Monday morning. A flight from JetBlue was second, landing in Havana from New York JFK shortly after American’s first flight to Havana.

Six more U.S. airlines – Alaska Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Spirit, Southwest and United – will launch their own routes to Havana by early January.

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“It was very emotional for me," Jonathan Gonzalez, 31, a Cuban-American born in Miami, told The Associated Press after arriving to Havana on American’s inaugural flight to the city.

The carrier provided passengers on the flight with straw hats emblazoned with “Cuba” on the back.

Ironically, the resumption of U.S. flights to Cuba’s capital city come just days after the death of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a vociferous adversary of the United States.

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Funeral and remembrance ceremonies are getting under way in Havana, which AP says has led to “a state-sanctioned ban on live music has hushed the capital's usually festive nightlife.” 

"I'm intrigued to see how the city is after the death of Fidel Castro," Tamara Cara, 45, an education professional from Puerto Rico who also was on American’s inaugural Havana flight, said to AP.

Like American, JetBlue also played up its debut of service to Havana. The carrier offered free Cuba-themed cake and cookies in the boarding area for passengers on its inaugural flight to the city. With the launch of the service, Havana became the 100th city in JetBlue’s route network.

Other airlines launching Havana service in the coming weeks are:

Alaska Airlines 

Alaska Airlines will fly to Havana from Los Angeles starting Jan. 5.

Delta Air Lines 

Delta will fly to Havana from Atlanta, Miami and New York JFK. It’s first flights to the city will begin Thursday (Dec. 1).

Frontier Airlines 

Frontier will fly to Havana from Miami. Its first flights on the route will launch Thursday (Dec. 1).

Southwest Airlines

Southwest will launch Havana flights on Dec. 12, flying to the city from the Florida cities of Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines will fly from Fort Lauderdale to Havana starting on Thursday (Dec. 1).

United Airlines

United will fly to Havana from its hubs at Newark Liberty and Houston Bush Intercontinental. United’s first Havana flights will launch from Newark on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

American Airlines joins rush to Cuba with first flights