Alaska Airlines among those approved for direct flights from US to Cuba

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has tentatively approved flights on eight airlines to Havana as early as this fall, with American Airlines Group Inc. receiving the largest share of the limited routes, the Transportation Department said Thursday.

The decision, coming about a year after the United States and Cuba re-established diplomatic relations, includes 35 flights per week on American, the biggest U.S. airline in Latin America by flights. Its rival for Caribbean travel, JetBlue Airways Corp., was granted 27.

The department expects to reach a final decision on the routes later this summer after reviewing any objections. It also recommended flights to Havana on Delta Air Lines Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., AlaskaAir Group Inc., Spirit Airlines Inc. and Frontier Airlines.

The U.S. flights to Cuba's capital will be the latest step in bringing the former Cold War foes closer together.

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Last month, the Transportation Department greenlit scheduling of flights by the airlines to other cities in Cuba for the first time in decades. Until now, air travel to the communist-run island has been limited to charter services.

Selecting the carriers for Havana flights created a challenge for the Obama administration. Airlines applied for nearly triple the 20 daily round-trips Cuba and the United States agreed to allow.

"The proposed slate of airlines will ensure service to areas of substantial Cuban-American population, as well as to important aviation hub cities," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.

"The department also sought to offer the public a wide array of travel choices in the type of airline such as network, low-cost and ultra low-cost carriers."

Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which have the biggest Cuban-American communities in the United States, received the most flights at 83 per week among six airlines.

American won one-third of flights from South Florida. This may give it a leg up on rivals, because it can offer corporate customers more convenient connections through Miami.

"It's enough to make it a viable business-traveler schedule," said aviation industry consultant Robert Mann.

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Alaska Airlines has been tentatively approved for daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Havana — the only airline to ask for daily nonstop flights between the two locations, the company said in a press release.

The flight will originate in Seattle on a Boeing 737-900ER, which can hold 181 passengers, before traveling to L.A. and then Havana, the company said.

"Alaska looks forward to receiving a final order from the Department of Transportation and to starting service by the end of the year," said Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden.

Over time, U.S. airlines anticipate a bigger payout from Cuba than is typical for Caribbean destinations.

Strong demand will come from Cuban-Americans visiting relatives and executives traveling in business class to evaluate commercial opportunities, experts said.

"These flights open the door to a new world of travel and opportunities for our customers," said Oscar Munoz, United Airlines CEO. United will fly from Newark and Houston under the proposal.

Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and Tampa will also offer nonstop service.

While a ban on tourism to Cuba remains part of U.S. law, President Barack Obama has authorized exceptions. U.S. citizens who meet one of 12 criteria, such as taking part in educational tours, can now visit Cuba.

The U.S. House of Representatives was due to vote as early as Thursday on a spending bill amendment to essentially lift travel restrictions to Cuba for a year.

American said it hopes to begin Havana service in November.

Its shares rose 2.8 percent in afternoon trade while JetBlue shares added 1.3 percent. Southwest rose 1.6 percent and Delta was up nearly 2 percent.

Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe. Alaska Dispatch News reporter Annie Zak contributed to this story.