All major US carriers have submitted their applications for traffic rights between the US and Cuba to the Department of Transportation ahead of the deadline set by the DOT.
According to the applications, the carriers are planning the following services if they are granted traffic rights based on the bilateral air service agreement between the US and Cuba:
- Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International): Seattle-Los Angeles International-Havana International and Portland International-Los Angeles-Havana using B737-900(ER)s
- American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth): Miami International/Charlotte International/Chicago O'Hare/Dallas/Forth Worth/Los Angeles to Havana, Miami to Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Santa Clara de Cuba and Varadero using a mix of B737-800 and A319-100s
- Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson): New York JFK/Atlanta/Miami/Orlando to Havana using B737-800s and B757-200s
- JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK): Fort Lauderdale International/New York JFK/Orlando International/Tampa International/New York Newark/Boston to Havana, Fort Lauderdale to Camagüey, Holguin and Santa Clara de Cuba using a mix of A320-200s and A321-200s
- Silver Airways (3M, Fort Lauderdale International): Tampa-West Palm Beach International-Havana, Orlando-Fort Myers-Havana, Fort Lauderdale-Key West-Havana, Tampa-Jacksonville International, FL-Havana, Fort Lauderdale-Havana/Santa Clara de Cuba/Holguin/Santiago de Cuba/Camagüey/Varadero/Cayo Coco/Manzanillo/Cienfugos/Cayo Largo using Saab 340Bs
- Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field): Fort Lauderdale/Tampa/Orlando-Havana, Fort Lauderdale-Varadero/Santa Clara de Cuba using B737-700s and B737-800s
- Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International): Fort Lauderdale-Havana using A319-100s
- Sun Country Airlines (SY, Minneapolis St. Paul International): Minneapolis/St. Paul-Fort Myers-Havana, Minneapolis/St. Paul-Havana/-Santa Clara de Cuba/-Varadero using B737-700s and B737-800s
- United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare): Newark/Houston Intercontinental/Washington Dulles/Chicago O'Hare-Havana using B737-800s
Frontier Airlines (F9, Denver International) has also applied for an exemption from the DOT's regulations to start services to Cuba without specifying exact routes planned.
Answers by the DOT are due by March 14 and replies to these answers by March 21 following which the DOT will assign the frequency allocations to the applying airlines. Both US and Cuban carriers will each be able to operate up to 20 daily services from/to Havana and up to 10 daily services from/to each of the other 9 Cuban international airports.
