Silver Airways applies to fly to Cuba

Airlines begin fight for 20 spots to fly to Havana

As U.S. carriers begin to fight over flight rights, Silver Airways announced that they filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation just in time to meet the Wednesday afternoon deadline.

The application deadline for the 110 non-charter passenger flights from Florida to Cuba was set after a February agreement -- -- the first of its kind in five decades. 

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DOT authorities will select airlines to operate 20 daily round-trip flights to Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, the island's most popular destination. There will also be 10 daily flights to the nine other international airports in the communist nation: 

  • Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport in Varadero 
  • Abel Santamaria Airport in Santa Clara
  • Frank Pais Airport in Holguin 
  • Ignacio Agramonte International Airport in Camaguey
  • Jaime Gonzalez Airport in Cienfuegos
  • Jardines del Rey Airport in Cayo Coco
  • Vilo Acuna Airport in Cayo Largo
  • Sierra Maestra Airport in Manzanillo 
  • Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba

Silver Airways, a small turboprop carrier, asked for flights from five Florida cities to the 10 Cuban destinations. If their application is accepted, they would be flying out of Key West, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Jacksonville.   

Jason Bewley, the airline's vice president, said in a statement that getting Havana flights was crucial to their plan. The flights to Havana would make "the full bridge to Cuba financially viable and sustainable."

Among the applicants were American Airlines, which requested 18 daily flights to Cuba -- out of which 14 were to Havana. American Airlines also wants to fly from Chicago and Los Angeles. JetBlue requested 11 to Havana, Delta Airlines wants five and Southwest asked for nine. 

American Airlines, which has operated charter flights to Cuba since 1991, has established access to Miami International Airport and JetBlue to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. 

According to the DOT's plan, they would issue answers to inquiries March 14. And once the DOT approves the applications March 21st, the airlines have to get authorization from the Cuban aviation authorities. Flights could begin later this year. 

 


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.