UA Service to Havana Starts Nov 29, 2016 - from EWR (daily), IAH (weekly)
 

Looks like US is normalizing relations with Cuba
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-1...-released.html

"President Barack Obama will end the U.S. isolation of Cuba that has persisted for more than a half century, initiating talks to resume diplomatic relations, opening a U.S. embassy in Havana and loosening trade and travel restrictions on the nation.

The steps effectively end an embargo that has been one of the most durable elements of U.S. foreign policy. Travelers will be able to use credit cards in Cuba and Americans will be able to legally bring home up to $100 in previously illegal Cuban cigars treasured by aficionados."



I read that as Americans can soon to now go direct and vacation there (?)


Given UA has PA's original route authority to Cuba and used to run regular off-schedule 747 charters MIA-HAV during the Miami hub, how soon till we get some scheduled UA flights there?

Or is this something they cede / sell to AA or DL which seem to have better geo hubs to get to Cuba?

Anyone know if AA has a MIA-HAV authority from Braniff / Eastern given that's the basis of AA's LatAm network? They probably seem the more logical to reactivate unless UA had the only route authority.

I flew UA into Havana a few years ago. I believe UA is still running some Cuba flights.

Yes, as charters. As is AA, or was, most likely still does.

The assumption that all the old route authorities are still valid is an interesting one.

ETA: Also, the new approach still prohibits "normal" tourism. We're not going to see a flood of scheduled service into Cuba anytime soon, I don't think.

Just read the USA today article. I do not read it as you will be able to go vacation there. You need to be a professional in certain categories and get a license to go. Or have family there. And only these licensed professionals can bring back up to $400 in goods of which a max of $100 can be cigars and alcohol combined. So basically a few cigars and a bottle of rum.

Check out this article from USA TODAY:

U.S. seeks to normalize relations with Cuba; U.S. prisoner freed

http://usat.ly/1DOw3tc

To keep it on topic, I doubt there would be enough traffic to warrant scheduled UA service. So probably just UA charter.

I'd be shocked if Congress lets this happen without a fight.

Thanks that is a good / better overall link. So looks like regular US tourism is going to be awhile.

Have had the opportunity to get to Angkor Wat, Laos and Myanmar all right after they re-opened (or at least in case of Mynamar, 'socially acceptable' to visit) and really want to add Cuba to list before it gets a modern facelift (which I assume will happen relatively quickly if relations truly normalize).

Still will be interesting to see the airlines jockey for position given expanded lists of reasons for visit and given the tourism infrastructure the Europeans, Canadians and most of the world except the US can take advantage of at this point.

I'm not sure why this would necessarily result in a modern facelift. It's only US travellers that have been prohibited AFAIK. It's not like Cuba has been cut off from the world. Europeans and Canadians have been vacationing there for many years.


http://vacations.aircanada.com/en/va...D2891DF5.cls01

http://vacations.aircanada.com/en/va...resort_listing

I knew this thread was going to pop up.

Say, are there any decent lounges in HAV?

Yes, Pan Am!

Significant parts of the embargo are codified in legislation and will be less likely to change in the near term.

UA already has charter service out of MIA.

TOPIC REMINDER

The OP was straightforward, (when/) will UA resume regular service to Cuba. Very appropriate question for this forum.

The geo-political issues of today's USA/Cuba announcement and USA foreign policy are not UA issues and will be deleted. Try OMNI for that discussion, such as
US and Cuba to restore Diplomatic relations
Obama to announce lifting of Cuba travel restrictions-DJ

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

If/when flights become possible on a regular basis, one option for UA would be to subcontract it to Silver Airways out of FLL.

It will be interesting to see how DOT eventually deals with the route authorities, as mentioned by the OP. Assuming that the tourist restrictions are eventually lifted, I can't really see UA operating a scheduled commercial service flight out of MIA to HAV. Especially considering UA ceased it's South American flights from MIA, what, years ago? I suspect you'd see AA from MIA and perhaps, B6 from FLL.

While UA might miss the MIA feed, I would think, if they could change the route, IAD seems to be the most logical of UA hubs for a commercial service. IAH seems too far to the West. Can't recall if UA is still promoting it's 'Capital to Capital' services out of Dulles, but this would be another one.