DOT Publishes Application For Air Carriers That Want To Service Cuba
/DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Issued by the Department of Transportation on the 16th day of February, 2016
Served: February 16, 2016
ORDER INSTITUTING PROCEEDING AND INVITING APPLICATIONS
Air Transport Services- 1953 Amendments
Memorandum of Understanding- 2016
Summary
By this order the Department (1) institutes the 2016 U.S.-Cuba Frequency Allocation Proceeding; and (2) invites U.S. carriers to apply for exemption authority and allocation of newly available frequencies to provide scheduled services between the United States and Cuba.
Background
On February 16, 2016, the United States and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow for the resumption of scheduled air services between the United States and Cuba. For scheduled combination or all-cargo services to and from Havana, under the terms of the MOU, U.S. carriers may operate up to twenty (20) daily round-trip frequencies. For scheduled combination or all-cargo services to and from each of the other nine (9) international airports in Cuba, U.S. carriers may operate up to ten (10) daily round-trip frequencies, for a total of ninety (90) daily non-Havana U.S.-Cuba round-trip frequencies.1 The MOU also allows for unlimited charter services to and from any point in Cuba, in accordance with the regulations of each country.2 This proceeding accordingly will not address charter services. Its sole focus will be on the allocation of scheduled service frequencies.
1 The nine airports, other than Havana’s José Marti International Airport (HAV), that are authorized for international services are: the Ignacio Agramonte International Airport in Camagüey (CMW); the Jardines del Rey Airport in Cayo Coco (CCC); the Vilo Acuña Airport in Cayo Largo (CYO); the Jaime González Airport in Cienfuegos (CFG); the Frank País Airport in Holguín (HOG); the Sierra Maestra Airport in Manzanillo (MZO); the Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Matanzas (VRA); the Abel Santamaría Airport in Santa Clara (SNU); and the Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba (SCU).
2 The MOU does not place limits on the number of carriers that may provide U.S.-Cuba services, nor does it limit aircraft capacity for scheduled or charter services.
2016 U.S.-CUBA FREQUENCY ALLOCATION PROCEEDING
DOCKET DOT-OST-2016-0021