American low-cost carrier, JetBlue has announced it will begin a weekly non-stop flight between New York and Cuba.
This service will mark the first time a major US carrier has offered a flight to the country since the travel restrictions were recently eased.
The flights will commence on July 3, 2015 and will operate each Friday, departing New York’s JFK at 12:00pm, and arriving into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport at 15:00pm. The return flight will depart Cuba at 16:30pm, arriving into New York at 20:00pm.
The expanded charter service comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo’s trade mission to Cuba: "Our Global NY initiative and our trade mission to Cuba is all about opening the door to new economic opportunities, and JetBlue's exciting announcement today is proof that our approach is delivering results for New York businesses," he said.
JetBlue will serve the charter flights to Cuba on its 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, alongside its charter partner, Cuba Travel Services, which believes that expanding its flight network will provide licensed travellers more travel options for a lower cost.
The additional service offers customers additional options to travel to Cuba from New York without connection delays or extra domestic travel expenses to connect in Florida.
"The Governor's trade mission is helping position JetBlue as the leading carrier to Cuba. In teaming with an experienced charter partner like Cuba Travel Services, our first flight from JFK to Cuba brings JetBlue's award-winning experience to Cuba-bound customers and offers new direct travel options from New York, where many Cubans live today,” added Robin Hayes, president and chief executive officer, JetBlue.
The New York metropolitan read has the second largest Cuban-American population in the United States after Florida.
“We are very excited to partner with yet another prestigious carrier such as JetBlue,” said Michael Zuccato, general manager at Cuba Travel Services. “A second JFK rotation will provide additional options for travellers in the Tri-State area as well as those connecting passengers that prefer a New York gateway to Cuba.”
In January, the US Treasury and Commerce Departments unveiled a new set of rules that eased travel and trade restrictions to the Cuba, as long as US citizens certify they are travelling through on one of 12 approved categories, which include family, educational and humanitarian trips.
Previously, the last US-Cuba bilateral air services agreement was signed in 1953, just before the Cuban Revolution, and had essentially been dormant for over half a century.
JetBlue will also operate five weekly round trips to Cuba, including flights from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale with various charter partners.
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