This month, the Department of Transportation approved six U.S. airlines to begin service to select Cuban destinations. American Airlines, Frontier, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest and Sun Country are all now eligible to fly to Cuba from Miami (MIA), Chicago (ORD), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Philadelphia (PHL) and Minneapolis (MSP). The Department is still considering which airlines to approve for service to Havana (HAV), but it expects to reach a decision this summer. The agreement between the United States and Cuba permits up to 20 daily, U.S.-carrier, round-trip flights to Havana. Ten daily, round-trip flights from the United States are permitted at each of Cuba’s nine other international airports, for a total of 90. Non-Havana destinations include Camagüey (CMW), Cayo Coco (CCC), Cayo Largo del Sur (CYO), Cienfuegos (CFG), Holguin (HOG), Manzanillo (MZO), Santa Clara (SNU), Santiago de Cuba (SCU) and Matanzas (VRA). In total, 13 airlines have applied to begin service to Cuba, with seven applying to serve non-Havana destinations. The only airline denied permission was Eastern Airlines, due to its current operating authority to provide charter flights only. American Airlines will offer service to Santa Clara, Holguin, Matanzas, Camagüey and Cienfuegos from Miami. Frontier Airlines will offer service to Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Camagüey and Santa Clara from Chicago and Philadelphia. JetBlue will offer service to Camagüey, Holguin and Santa Clara, originating in Fort Lauderdale. Silver Airways and Southwest Airlines will both also offer flights only out of Fort Lauderdale, with Silver Airways flying to all nine international airports, and Southwest flying to Matanzas and Santa Clara. Sun Country Airlines will service Santa Clara and Matanzas from Minneapolis once weekly. Silver Airways will offer 34-seat flights on Saab 340B Plus aircraft; American Airlines, Southwest and Sun Country will offer 126- to 162-seat flights on Boeing 737 aircraft; American Airlines will also offer 160-seat flights on Airbus A319 aircraft; and Frontier and JetBlue will offer 162- to 186-seat flights on Airbus A320 aircraft. At this point, airlines must obtain Cuban government approval to launch service. It is expected service will launch in late 2016, and tickets will become available for pre-purchase. The Department of Transportation’s ruling on the new service does not override the initial restrictions on Cuban travel. Currently, only the following types of travel activities are permitted: family visits; official government business; journalistic activity; research; professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances; humanitarian projects; private foundation activities; exportation, importation or transmission of information; or export transactions. Do you plan to visit Cuba in the near future? Email us and let us know. Please include your full name and location with your email.