Commercial Cuba Air Service Could Begin in 2016

American Airlines 787

Commercial Cuba Air Service to and from the United States should be available for U.S passengers starting in 2016. A meeting between representatives of both countries on Wednesday night, December 16, resulted in this agreement according to some sources. So far, the news is based on reports from people supposedly in the know about the results of the meeting. MilesGeek has yet to see an official press release from either official source.

In related news, in a press release this morning American Airlines made the following statement.

“Today’s announcement is great news for our customers as it brings us one step closer to connecting the U.S. and Cuba with scheduled air service,” said American’s chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “As the leading carrier to the Caribbean and the leading U.S. airline to Cuba, we look forward to establishing scheduled service to Cuba in 2016, from Miami and other American hubs. We appreciate the Administration’s efforts and the hard work of the U.S. negotiators to reach this arrangement.”

American Airlines is not the only carrier planning to offer commercial Cuba air service. United, Delta and others have also announced interest in providing service.

Commercial Cuba air service has not been available from the U.S. for more than 50 years. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba were discontinued in 1961 following the Cuba missile crisis. Since that time, traveling between the two countries has been difficult.

Currently, U.S. passengers to Cuba have the option of booking an expensive charter flight between Miami and Havana or first flying to a country with scheduled service to Cuba and flying on to Cuba from there.

Unless additional changes are made, U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba will still have to qualify under one of the U.S. Treasury Department’s 12 categories for legal travel to Cuba. You can read the current requirements on the State Department travel information page for Cuba. Once on the site click on the “+” next to Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements.

MilesGeek will keep our readers up to date on developments regarding commercial Cuba flights along with other travel information for Cuba.

Kathy Stafford
Kathy Stafford

Kathy Stafford is a writer, publisher and editor. She was a contributing author to "Sasha Cohen Fire on Ice". She has been a contributing editor to several publications including, "Discover Balboa Park: A Complete Guide". Kathy was publisher and editor of "Skating Sketches", reporting on figure skating worldwide, for over ten years. She was a credentialed journalist as a figure skating specialist for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. She has covered international skating events in Switzerland, France, Finland, England, Canada and the United States with published articles in Canada, Japan, and the United States. Although she never accepted an assignment, she was on the list of approved Lonely Planet authors for three years. She is currently combining her love of travel, and her background as a writer and editor, as a publisher and author of travel related journalism. In addition, she blogs about her search for her family roots at www.cherokeerootsblog.com.

Articles: 206

Trending now

Southwest International Block
Trouble booking a flight on Southwest airlines from outside the United States?
Historic Mt. Airy - The Real Mayberry
24 Hours in the Real Mayberry – Home of Andy Griffith Show
Trunk Bay Swimming
A Week on Norwegian Cruise Lines Escape; Not necessarily for the birds!
Oswego Safe Haven
Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter – Oswego’s Beacon of Light in WWII’s Darkness