Southwest Airlines Makes First Flight To Cuba
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Southwest Airlines celebrated their inaugural flight to Cuba over the weekend.
On Sunday, November 13th, 143 passengers and a 5-man crew donned Cuban-style hats as the plane departed South Florida to an orchestra playing Caribbean music and a drumroll by Tito Puente, Jr.
The route is set, and our Southwest bird is heading for Varadero, Cuba! Learn how you can travel to Cuba at https://t.co/P1fxSqLNW0. pic.twitter.com/hnPISz6tsH
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) November 13, 2016
Southwest Flight 3914 left Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Varadero, Cuba at 11 a.m.
Non-stop service from FLL to Varadero will now fly twice a day and beginning December 12th, service from FLL and Tampa International Airport will depart for Havana, Cuba, "subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government," the airline said.
New service details for Santa Clara, Cuba are expected to also be announced.
Flights to Cuba from the U.S. began earlier this year after the Obama administration renewed relations with the island nation following more than five decades of isolation.