First Commercial Flights to Cuba: List of Cities and Airlines Bound for Havana

After the United States decided to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, eight proposed U.S airlines won tentative government approvals for direct flights to Cuba.

President Barack Obama has been successful in advancing to normalize relations between Cuba and the permission of direct flights to Havana is one more step towards the re-establishment of the ties. This marks the first commercial ravel between the countries in  50 years.

Below is the full list of tentative airlines and flight routes approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Alaska Airlines
Los Angeles: 1 daily round-trip flight

American Airlines
Miami: 4 daily round-trip flights
Charlotte: 1 daily round-trip flight

Delta Air Lines
Atlanta: 1 daily round-trip flight
New York JFK: 1 daily round-trip flight
Miami: 1 daily round-trip flight
Frontier Airlines
Miami: 1 daily round-trip flight

JetBlue
Fort Lauderdale: 2 daily round-trip flights (except one on Saturdays)
New York JFK: 1 daily round-trip flight
Orlando: 1 daily round-trip flight

Southwest Airlines
Fort Lauderdale: 2 daily round-trip flights
Tampa: 1 daily round-trip flight

Spirit Airlines
Fort Lauderdale: 2 daily round-trip flights

United Airlines
Houston Bush Intercontinental: 1 weekly round-trip flight (Saturday only)
Newark Liberty: 1 daily round-trip flight

The decision is tentative and is still subject to objections, but the DOT is looking forward to finalize the approval later this summer. The government's decision, if made final, will require airlines to begin within 90 days of the final order's issue date.

People must also be reminded that the tentative decision issued by the Department of Transportation doesn't authorize airlines to "sell tickets or operate scheduled flights until a final decision is reached sometime later this summer."

The statement clearly implies that one cannot just casually travel as a tourist. In order for a person to visit, he or she must, at least, meet one of any of the 12 qualifications: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions.

Many believe and view that the decision to break hostility between Cuba and U.S is a great step towards more progress especially on the demand of travel and finding opportunities by the customers and travelers.

On the other hand, President Obama still cannot lift the embargo to Cuba without the approval of the Congress. But he believes that "a policy of engagement rather than isolation would help the Cuban people help themselves."