As restrictions lift and allow Americans to visit the Caribbean island nation of Cuba, Southwest Airlines presented a petition to the U.S. Department of Transportation for approval to offer non-stop flights from Florida.

More than 25,000 supporters joined Southwest´s efforts by signing the petition. A number of Florida organizations reached out to Southwest to offer support of the request, including the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the United States Business Leaders Network and the Tampa Bay Partnership, among others.

If the petition were approved, Southwest Airlines, America´s largest domestic carrier, would offer non-stop flights to Havana (HAV) from Florida´s three busiest airports: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Tampa (TPA) and Orlando (MCO). With the permission to fly to Cuba, Southwest would begin to advertise daily routes later this year. Direct access from the United States to Cuba at reasonable fares will continue to build improved relations between the two nations.