The U.S. Department of Transportation has tentatively approved an application from Alaska Airlines for daily service between Los Angeles and Havana.
The department announced the award in a press release Thursday morning. Last year, the United States and Cuba reached an agreement allowing each country to operate up to 20 daily roundtrip flights to the other. The agreement was a landmark that intended to bring the first regular service between Cuba and the United States in 50 years.
The federal government regulates international air service, and it required airlines to apply for the limited number of available routes.
Thursday’s announcement declared that American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United and Alaska had been awarded permission to fly to Cuba.
Thursday’s announcement opens a public comment period that closes July 22. If there are objections to the award, the airlines may respond by July 29, and a final decision on the awards is scheduled for later this summer.
“Alaska looks forward to receiving a final order from the Department of Transportation and to starting service by the end of the year,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden in a statement released by the airline.
Alaska intends to fly a 181-passenger Boeing 737 on the Cuban route. Under last year’s agreement, Cuban travel is allowed for only 12 reasons including family visits, education, religious travel, journalism and professional research. Tourism is not one of the 12 reasons.
