American Airlines To Resume Flights To Havana As Cuba Announces Plans To Reopen

American Airlines To Resume Flights To Havana As Cuba Announces Plans To Reopen

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced on May 11, 2020 that Cuba plans to reopen to the world in early June 2020. The announce comes after closing the country’s border due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At the same time, American Airlines announced plans to resume flights between Miami and Havana on June 4, 2020.

American Airlines continues to reinforce its investment in Cuba.  In January, the airline asked the US Department of Transportation for two more daily round-trip flights into Cuba’s capital from its Miami hub.  Air Canada and Southwest also announced plans to resume flights to Havana.  It is expected that other airlines will follow in the coming days after the Cuban government’s announcement.

Similarly, American plans to resume additional international flights in early June.  These destinations include: London, Dublin, and Athens, followed by Munich and Paris in July.

While airlines open up more routes for international travel, the State Department still warns Americans not to travel abroad.  It maintains a global Level 4 health advisory that warns Americans that they should not travel.  The State Department put out that advisory on March 31, 2020.

Cuba has been a somewhat unreliable destination to build on given government regulations.  When the Obama Administration first opened up travel to Cuba, airlines jumped on the opportunity.  But it was not an immediate financial success like some airlines hoped.  After President Donald Trump took office, his administration changed travel requirements for Cuba.  In addition, they limited commercial flights to the country so that airlines could only fly to Havana.

Bottom Line

Clearly, American Airlines is keeping Cuba in its sights as it chooses it as one of its early international destinations after the coronavirus pandemic.  Though they are not the only airline doing so, their Miami hub and market makes it well positioned to return service to Havana.