8 US airlines win tentative approval for flights to Cuba

By Neysi Hernández

HAVANA (AA) – Eight commercial U.S. airlines on Thursday were given tentative approval to operate direct flights to Havana.

The flights will originate from 10 U.S. cities, including New York, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami.

Twelve airless had submitted applications to carry 60 flights but just eight carriers were approved, including Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit and United.

The carriers were chosen with the aim of having a variety of airlines -- from expensive to low-cost – and from a wide range of airports and cities with extensive Cuban populations, U.S. officials said.

Some airlines may begin flights as early as this fall.

Allowing direct U.S. flights to Cuba is part of the process of normalization of relations between Washington and Havana that began in late 2014.

Since diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored last July, visits by Americans to Cuba have increased markedly. The numbers have climbed more than 80 percent in 2016, compared to the same period the previous year, according to Cuba’s Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero.

U.S. and Cuban authorities agreed in February to restore flights between the two countries for the first time in 50 years.

"Restoring a scheduled air service is a tremendous potential to bring together the Cuban-American families and promote education and opportunities for companies of all sizes," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

The start of regular flights between Cuba and the U.S. will facilitate travel for Americans who fall within 12 categories in which travel restrictions to the Caribbean island are eased.

Those categories include family visits, cultural entertainment and religious visits.

A final decision concerning the airlines is expected later this summer.

Airlines would have 90 days from the date of a final decision to begin service.