NYC One Of 10 Cities To Offer Commercial Flights To Havana, Cuba
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The U.S. government has tentatively approved scheduled commercial airline service to Havana from 10 U.S. cities -- a major step in President Barack Obama's effort to normalize relations with Cuba.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says eight U.S. airlines will begin a total of 20 scheduled daily flights as early as this fall between the U.S. and the Cuban capital.
"Having regular air service for the first time in more than 50 years holds great potential – Cuban American families will be reunited and it will foster education and opportunities for American businesses of all sizes," the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a statement on Thursday.
The U.S. cities expected to provide air travel to Havana are: Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston; Los Angeles; Newark, New Jersey; New York; and four in Florida -- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa.
The airlines are Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United.
In a release Thursday, Delta Airlines said they would be offering services to Havana from New York City's John F. Kennedy Airport along with Miami and Atlanta airports. Delta said they plan to start selling tickets as early as this summer if regulations are approved.
The DOT said they will be working to provide citizens with a variety of different travel options -- including low-cost fares -- to allow flexibility for customers.
The decision won't be final until later this summer -- so there's time for the public to comment. According to the DOT, the public can provide their input by visiting regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2016-0021.
Obama traveled to Cuba earlier this year, pledging to press its leaders on human rights and political freedoms, and vowing that the mere fact of a visit by an American leader would promote those values on the island.
Photos: The Obamas In Cuba
Obama also pushed the U.S. government to lift economic restrictions on Cuba, something that can only be done by Congress.
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