The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has outlined its proposed distribution of Havana International, Cuba traffic rights following the launch of a frequency allocation proceeding in August last year.

Last year, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Alaska Airlines either terminated or scaled back their respective Havana services following weak uptake for travel to the Communist-run island, due, in part, to Washington's tightened travel measures. A total of four daily and six weekly frequencies for US-Havana travel were subsequently relinquished to the DOT.

The following carriers then submitted the following proposals for the available rights:

Following considerations, the DOT said in a statement on Friday, March 31, that it had tentatively awarded each passenger carrier applicant the following Havana rights:

The DOT said its principal objective in making its proposed selections was to "maximize public benefits, including choosing carriers that offered and could maintain the best ongoing service between the United States and Havana".

The Department said it had premised its decision not to allocate FedEx any rights on the grounds that the US logistics specialist has delayed by 17 months, the inauguration of its all-cargo service between Miami and Varadero/Matanzas, citing operational challenges and heightened regulatory uncertainty. It also noted that FedEx's intended deployment of Cessna 208 freighters with limited cargo capacity would not have been be an efficient use of the limited frequencies available.

As it stands, objections to the DOT’s tentative decision are due by April 16, 2018. If objections are filed, answers to objections will be due April 23, 2018. After considering all of the comments and responses, the DOT will then issue a final decision in the case.