AA one of six airlines granted routes to Cuba

[jimntx]

All announced routes are for non-Havana destinations.  Havana service decisions to come later.  AA, Frontier, Southwest, Silver, JetBlue, and Sun Country are the route winners.  AA only one with service from Miami.  Silver, Southwest, and JetBlue to fly from Ft. Lauderdale.  Frontier to offer flights from ORD and PHL.  Sun Country from Minneapolis.
 
http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/six-us-airlines-granted-permission-operate-cuba-flights?NL=ATW-04&Issue=ATW-04_20160610_ATW-04_125&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPEN1000001734009&utm_campaign=6181&utm_medium=email&elq2=1d5804c385824ba4b2a5e7253d9dc4b2

 

[FWAAA]

These were the uncontested routes; there were far more frequencies than requested, so all airlines were granted their non-Havana frequencies/

For HAV, on the other hand, there were applications for about 3 or 4 times more frequencies than available; there are just 10 daily flights to HAV available.

 

[jimntx]

Someone who evidently is familiar with Cuba and its air traffic commented on the ATW website that HAV is the only destination of any value in Cuba...that traffic to these other destinations is coincidental.  Hopefully some of them will become vacation destinations.  I'm old enough to remember when some of these had some rather swank waterfront hotels for the gringo vacationers.

 

[kirkpatrick]

Someone who evidently is familiar with Cuba and its air traffic commented on the ATW website that HAV is the only destination of any value in Cuba...that traffic to these other destinations is coincidental.  Hopefully some of them will become vacation destinations.  I'm old enough to remember when some of these had some rather swank waterfront hotels for the gringo vacationers.

 
Yeah, me too.  I imagine there will be a lot of ethnic travel, with people visiting family down there. 
 
Does anyone know what the infrastructure down there is like?  I realize the rest of the world has been dealing with Cuba for decades, but wondered if the hotels and restaurants are up to first world standards.  I would expect a sharp increase in tourism with the country now open to 310 million people right next door.
 
MK

 

[IORFA]

These were the uncontested routes; there were far more frequencies than requested, so all airlines were granted their non-Havana frequencies/For HAV, on the other hand, there were applications for about 3 or 4 times more frequencies than available; there are just 10 daily flights to HAV available.

I think Havana gets 20 flights a day and 10 to every other Cuban city.

 

[FWAAA]

Officially, tourism isn't yet allowed; the only people allowed to book and fly these routes are those who were eligible to fly to/from Cuba on the charter flights. Now, however, Americans can self-declare their license eligibility, so it's likely that some Americans will be tourists (even though typical beach tourism is not allowed).

I think Havana gets 20 flights a day and 10 to every other Cuban city.

D' Oh! You're right - sorry about that. Lots more applications than those 20 frequencies.

 

[700UW]

Yes 20 daily flights. US carriers have applied for 60 flights a day and HAV is in bad shape facility wise.

 

[IORFA]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if AA came in and helped to substantially upgrade/replace the airport in Havana like they have all over the Caribbean.

 

[Kev3188]

Not a bad idea; the terminal is...something...

 

[jimntx]

I agree.  It's something.  What?  I haven't a clue, but it's definitely something.

 

[LD3]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article88152572.html

 

[700UW]

Here are the routes:

AS LAX-HAV 1xD
AA MIA-HAV 4xD
AA CLT-HAV 1xD
DL JFK-HAV 1xD
DL ATL-HAV 1xD
DL MIA-HAV 1xD
F9 MIA-HAV 1xD
B6 FLL-HAV 2xMTWTF Su + 1x Sa
B6 JFK-HAV 1xD
B6 MCO-HAV 1xD
WN FLL-HAV 2xD
WN TPA-HAV 1xD
NK FLL-HAV 2xD
UA EWR-HAV 1xD
UA IAH-HAV 1xSa

https://www.transportation.gov/sites/do ... rder_0.pdf

 

[eolesen]

I give LAX-HAV about a year before AS cries uncle.

DFW, CLT, IAH, JFK, ATL and EWR are just as questionable as long as free travel isn't allowed.

 

[AirwAr]

CLT is a waste.  What can CLT do that an additional MIA flight wouldn't have done better?

 

[lpbrian]

I agree with E. LAX -HAV is a joke