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:
- American Airlines: 17 weekly US-Havana frequencies to operate between Miami International and Havana using B737-800 equipment;
- Delta Air Lines: 1x daily frequency to provide a second daily Miami-Havana flight using a 160-seat A320-200;
- FedEx Express: 1x daily scheduled all-cargo frequency, to be operated five days per week (i.e., Monday-Friday), using Cessna (single turboprop) 208 aircraft, beginning July 15, 2018;
- JetBlue Airways: 28x weekly US-Havana frequencies, all using 162-seater A320 aircraft, to operate (1) a 6x weekly (Sunday through Friday) between Fort Lauderdale International and Havana, beginning June 14, 2018; (2) a Saturday-only service between Boston and Havana, beginning June 16, 2018; (3) daily service between Tampa International and Havana, beginning June 14, 2018; (4) daily service between New York JFK and Havana, beginning June 14, 2018; and (5) daily service between New York Newark and Havana, beginning June 14, 2018.
- Southwest Airlines: 1x daily US-Havana frequency to provide additional Fort Lauderdale International-Havana service, using either 143-seater B737-700 or 175-seater B737-800 aircraft;
- United Airlines: 6x weekly US-Havana frequencies to expand its Saturday-only Houston Intercontinental-Havana service to daily service. Mesa Airlines also requested underlying exemption authority to operate United’s Houston-Havana service as a United Express carrier.
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:
- American Airlines: from Miami International (1x daily);
- Delta Air Lines: from Miami (1x daily);
- JetBlue Airways: from Fort Lauderdale International (6x weekly, Sunday-Friday);
- jetBlue Airways: from Boston (1x weekly, Saturday);
- Southwest Airlines: from Fort Lauderdale (1x daily);
- United Airlines/Mesa Airlines: from Houston Intercontinental (6x weekly, Sunday-Friday). The DOT also tentatively decided to approve United’s and Mesa’s request for interoperational flexibility.
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.