U.S. to Allow Eight Airlines to Fly to Havana
July 07 2016 - 11:40AM
Dow Jones News
Eight airlines could start operating as many as 20 daily flights
from the U.S. to Havana as early as this fall, the Obama
administration said Thursday, the latest move to normalize
relations with Cuba.
The airlines the U.S. said could start service are Alaska Air
Group Inc., American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc.,
Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways Corp., Southwest Airlines Co.,
Spirit Airlines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx made the
announcement Thursday, calling the move part of President Barack
Obama's plan to restore diplomatic ties with the Communist island
nation. Mr. Foxx said the proposal could reunite Cuban-American
families and encourage opportunities for American businesses. The
U.S. and Cuba agreed to thaw relations in 2014 after 50 years of
hostility.
The proposal is expected to be completed this summer, with
flights starting in late 2016 or early 2017.
The secretary said the department received applications from a
dozen airlines, who collectively applied for more than 60
flights.
"In the end, we chose airlines that could offer and maintain the
best ongoing service between the U.S. and Havana," Mr. Foxx
said.
United's stock rose 2.7% in morning trading in New York as Delta
rose 2%, American rose 3% and Southwest rose 1.7%. Shares of
JetBlue rose 1.8%, Alaska increased 2.3% and Spirit climbed
3.2%.
Write to Joshua Jamerson at joshua.jamerson@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 07, 2016 11:25 ET (15:25 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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