Franchising, retail, business
18/08/2015
American Airlines announced Tuesday that it will begin operating charter flights between Los Angeles and Havana.
American says it will offer the only nonstop connection between L.A. and the Cuban capital.
The flights, which will be sold by Cuba Travel Services, begin Dec. 12 with one round-trip Boeing 737 flight every Saturday. In addition to the L.A. service, American says it also plans to add a Saturday flight between Miami and Havana, also to be sold by Cuba Travel Services.
The Cuba additions come amid increasing airline interest in Cuba as travel restrictions are loosening for Americans wishing to travel to the country. American, like other airlines, has publicly expressed an interest to add regularly scheduled passenger flights to Cuba if – or when – current restrictions fade away.
While rules on travel to Cuba are being relaxed, there are still significant restrictions. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control no longer requires special licenses to visit Cuba. Now, travelers only have to certify they are visiting in one of 12 categories — educational, religious and humanitarian projects, among others — while tourism remains prohibited. Visas are also required, but can generally be obtained at the airport where the flight to Cuba originates.