Alaska Airlines this week received final approval from the federal government for flights from Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday officially approved the Seattle-based airline's request to operate commercial service between the two cities, pending approval from the Cuban government. After that, Alaska Airlines said in a press release, the company will determine when to start service.
Alaska Airlines flights to Cuba will originate in Seattle, with same-plane service to L.A. and then Cuba's capital.
Earlier this year, some airlines got a tentative go-ahead for service to the island nation. This week, JetBlue made the first commercial flight between the U.S. and Cuba in more than 50 years, traveling from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida to Abel Santamaría Airport in Santa Clara, Cuba, the company said in a press release.
Alaska Airlines is one of eight airlines that the Transportation Department this week finalized for service to Cuba. Scheduled flights to Havana are expected to begin as early as late September, though some restrictions remain for Americans traveling to the Caribbean island.