American Airlines Interested In Offering Flights To Cuba
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami/ AP) -- America Airlines has shown interest in taking travelers to Cuba.
An airline executive said Tuesday that American already operates about 20 charter flights a week to Cuba and would like to add regular flights from Miami.
"We don't have anything to announce today," the airline's president, Scott Kirby, said on a conference call with analysts and reporters, "but we will be anxious to start serving Cuba as soon as it's legally allowed."
READ: Fidel Castro Breaks Silence On U.S.-Cuba Relations
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways have expressed interest since President Barack Obama announced last month that the U.S. would establish diplomatic relations and expand trade and tourism with Cuba. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said last week that his airline is interested too, although he said Southwest has 50 potential destinations beyond the U.S. mainland, and Cuba "will just be one more."
READ: Travelers To Travel Agents Affected By U.S. Ease On Cuba Restrictions
New U.S. government rules issued this month relaxed travel restrictions that have stood for 54 years since the communist revolution in Cuba. Licenses are no longer required, but trips are limited to 12 categories including visiting close relatives, humanitarian missions and educational tours. Tourism is not an approved reason to visit — yet.
READ: U.S. Announces New Cuba Trade, Travel Rules
JetBlue and Sun Country also offer charter flights to the island.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
