The Proposed Cuba Schedules Of The 13 Airlines That Submitted DOT Applications

United States Department of Transportation
2016 US-Cuba Frequency Allocation Proceeding
2 March 2016

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Dynamic International Airways
Eastern Air Lines
Federal Express
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Silver Airways
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
United Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Inc. proposes to operate double-daily scheduled combination service on: 1) a Seattle-Los Angeles-Havana routing; and 2) a Portland-Los Angeles-Havana routing, both using 181-seat Boeing 737-900ER aircraft. The core of Alaska's proposal is twice-daily nonstop roundtrip service between Los Angeles and Havana, with once-daily service between its Seattle hub and Havana via Los Angeles and once-daily service between Portland and Havana via Los Angeles. 1 Alaska will institute service on its daily Seattle-Los Angeles-Havana flight as early as August 1, 2016, and on its daily Portland-Los Angeles-Havana flight as early as August 28, 2016, but in any event, both flights will commence no later than 90 days following receipt of all required governmental approvals.  Alaska will use B737-900ER aircraft (with 16 First Class seats and 165 Economy Class seats for a total of 181 seats) to serve the route.  Alaska's Portland-Los Angeles-Havana service will operate using a single plane and single flight number in each direction. The Seattle-Los Angeles-Havana service will operate using a plane/single flight number on the outbound route; on the return, Seattle-bound passengers will connect at Los Angeles.

American plans to commence service as described herein 90 days after the issuance of a final order in the 2016 US-Cuba Frequency Allocation Proceeding and/or as authorized by the Department in the 2016 US-Cuba Frequency Allocation Proceeding. American’s service as requested in this proceeding will be operated as follows: Ten year-round daily frequencies between Miami International Airport and Havana’s José Martí International Airport.  One year-round daily frequency between Charlotte Douglas International Airport and HAV.  One year-round daily frequency between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and HAV.  One year-round weekly frequency between Los Angeles International Airport and HAV.  One year-round weekly frequency between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and HAV.  Two year-round daily frequencies between MIA and Santa Clara’s Abel Santamaría Airport.  Two year-round daily frequencies between MIA and Holguín’s Frank País Airport.  Two year-round daily frequencies between MIA and Varadero’s Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport.  One year-round daily frequency between MIA and Camagüey’s Ignacio Agramonte International Airport.  One year-round daily frequency between MIA and Cienfuegos’s Jaime González Airport.  American proposes to operate all US-Cuba service with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, except for CLT-HAV and DFW-HAV, which will be operated with Airbus A-319 aircraft.  Only American’s proposal ensures sufficient scheduled service between MIA and Cuba. American’s proposed schedule of ten daily frequencies to HAV and eight daily frequencies to other stations in Cuba from MIA matches the current charter flight demand and anticipates the expected near-term growth in demand that will follow from the historic resumption of scheduled flights.  With the prohibition on tourist travel, however, demand for US-Cuba service from outside Miami is necessarily limited, and any decision that simply distributes frequencies to various US carriers at other gateways without regard for the far greater demand generated by the Cuban-American community in Miami will fail to “maximize public benefits” and would defeat the US Government’s objectives for this proceeding. Simply put, the Department should not allow parochial aviation interests to trump the Administration’s broader policy objectives for US-Cuba relations.

Delta requests the following frequencies from the current distribution, in order of priority:  One daily, seven days a week, frequency for New York (JFK)-Havana; One daily, seven days a week, frequency for Atlanta-Havana; Two daily, seven days a week, frequencies for Miami-Havana; and One daily, seven days a week, frequency for Orlando-Havana.  Delta’s first priority for Cuba service is a daily New York (JFK)-Havana flight. Delta plans to start this new flight July 1, 2016, following the receipt of all necessary foreign and domestic approvals. Delta requires a minimum of one daily, seven days a week, frequency for its proposed JFK-Havana service. The service will be operated on a year-round basis. Delta will use Boeing 757-200s, equipped with 20 First Class seats, 29 Delta Comfort+ (premium economy) seats, and 150 economy class seats.  Delta’s second priority is to secure frequencies for a daily Atlanta-Havana flight. Delta will use Boeing 757-200s, equipped with 20 First Class seats, 29 Comfort+ (premium economy) seats, and 150 economy class seats.  Delta’s third priority is to secure two daily frequencies for Miami-Havana. Delta requires a minimum of one daily, seven days a week, frequencies for its proposed Miami-Havana service; and would only accept a full-week grant for a second daily flight, for a total of 14 round trips a week. Although Delta is enthusiastic about providing needed competition in Miami, we urge the Department to seek competitive balance in frequency awards from this important gateway. Commercially, it becomes challenging to offer competitive service on a route when another carrier has vastly more frequencies than other airlines. Delta will use Boeing 737-800s, equipped with 16 First Class seats, 18 Comfort+ (premium economy) seats, and 126 economy class seats. DL-102. The new service would be funded from Delta’s existing fleet of 69 737-800s.  Delta’s final priority is to serve Havana from Orlando (MCO). Delta requires a minimum of one daily, seven days a week, frequency for its proposed Orlando-Havana service. The service will be operated on a year-round basis. Delta will use Boeing 737-800s, equipped with 16 First Class seats, 18 Comfort+ (premium economy) seats, and 126 economy class seats.

Dynamic is a well established passenger and all-cargo carrier that holds certificates of public convenience and necessity authorizing it to engage in interstate and foreign charter air transportation of persons, property and mail. Dynamic also holds certificates of public convenience and necessity authorizing it to engage in interstate and foreign scheduled air transportation of persons, property, and mail. Though the Department has not yet made Dynamic’s scheduled certificates effective, Dynamic anticipates effective scheduled authority within the next couple of months and well in advance of its proposed start date for scheduled service to Cuba. Pursuant to its Department and FAA authority,  Dynamic currently operates a fleet of seven Boeing 767 passenger and freighter aircraft in foreign and domestic service. Dynamic plans to operate less than daily round-trips between New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Eastern respectfully applies for the following authority to engage in scheduled, foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between any point or points in the United States and any point or points in Cuba: an exemption from the provisions of 49 USC § 41101, for an initial, two-year period, authorizing Eastern to operate such service; and an allocation of combination service frequencies, of indefinite duration, so as to permit Eastern to operate one daily flight between Miami and Havana, three weekly flights between Miami and Camagüey, and three weekly flights between Miami and Holguín.  A comparatively recent entrant to the longstanding US-Cuba passenger charter market, Eastern has operated, for ViajeHoy d/b/a Havana Air, approximately 90 charter flights monthly between Havana and five Cuban cities: Havana, Camagüey, Holguín, Santa Clara, and Santiago de Cuba.

FedEx is seeking to operate one daily all-cargo scheduled-service frequency (to be operated five days a week, as further explained herein) between Miami, Florida and Havana, Cuba. FedEx is seeking an allocation of a single daily frequency, which it would operate five days a week (Monday-Friday) on a routing MIA-HAV-MID-MIA. The connections to Merida, Mexico would be operated on a blind-sector basis, as that freight is needed to provide the proper revenue basis so that the flights can be economically viable. The flights would be operated on a year-round (non-seasonal) basis. FedEx will be using is a purple-tail Boeing 757-200SF for its proposed service.  Given the complexities of setting up operations in Cuba with ground and customs clearance capabilities, FedEx respectfully requests a 120-day start-up period. FedEx proposes a start-up date of September 1, 2016, or no later than the end of the mandated start-up period.

Frontier Airlines, Inc. hereby requests that the following frequencies for operations to/from Cuba be granted to it: Four daily frequencies to/from José Marti International Airport; One daily frequency to/from Antonio Maceo Airport; One daily frequency on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to/from Ignacio Agramonte International Airport; One daily frequency on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to/from Abel Santamaría Airport; and Two daily frequencies on Saturday to/from Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport.  It appears that the largest population eligible to travel to Cuba are those permitted to do so to visit “close relatives” there (31 CFR § 515.561). Thus, the population most likely to desire transportation to Cuba are Cuban-Americans, who are most likely to have close relatives in Cuba. Frontier is the only domestic ULCC operating at Miami International Airport and as such, is ideally suited to be awarded frequencies in this proceeding.  The population of Cuban Americans living in Miami-Dade County is over ten times higher than even the Cuban American population in the county with the second largest population, its neighbor, Broward County. This makes Miami International Airport the most important airport for the award and utilization of the frequencies to Cuba and why Frontier has proposed that eighty percent of the frequencies it is requesting be operated between Miami and Cuba.

JetBlue wishes to immediately initiate service between the United States and numerous points in Cuba as soon as all regulatory approvals are obtained. JetBlue requests that its exemption authority be granted for a period of at least two years and that 15 daily frequencies be granted on an indefinite basis.  JetBlue’s service proposal includes:  Year-round daily non-stop service in nine US-Cuba markets, including the two largest and most important markets, Ft. Lauderdale/South Florida-Havana and New York-Havana, as well as from Orlando-Havana, Tampa-Havana, Newark-Havana, Boston-Havana, Ft. Lauderdale-Santa Clara, Ft. Lauderdale-Holguin, and Ft. Lauderdale-Camaguey. Service to Cuba on JetBlue’s largest aircraft, Airbus A321s, as well as on Airbus A320s.  Service commencement as soon as all regulatory approvals are obtained. JetBlue anticipates a start date of September 8, 2016 or within 100 days after receipt of all necessary approvals (whichever is earlier).  JetBlue has grown to be a leading airline in the Caribbean with more than 100 average daily flights, particularly from New York City and Ft. Lauderdale. JetBlue is the largest airline in both of the Caribbean’s largest markets, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and has continued to grow in the Caribbean while legacy carriers have simultaneously reduced service in the region. In fact, JetBlue served the most destinations in the Caribbean from the Northeast with the most flights and seats of any airline in 2015.

Silver Airways’ service proposal maximizes air service opportunities for several US communities that otherwise would not receive convenient non-stop or one-stop scheduled air service to Cuba. Given the size of the Cuban American population in the Florida markets from which Silver Airways proposes to operate Cuba service, the airline’s proposal will significantly enhance options for family visits in the US-Cuba market, which is directly relevant in this proceeding given that Cuban Americans comprise the vast majority of likely Cuba travelers.  Silver Airways, Florida’s leading regional airline operator, is pleased to propose the following scheduled services:  Year-round four times weekly non-stop service between José Martí International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport, complemented by single plane same flight number continuing service to Tampa International Airport, and year-round three times weekly non-stop service between HAV and Fort Myers/Southwest Florida International Airport, complemented by singe plane same flight number continuing service to Orlando International Airport, with each such HAV route to be operated on different days of the week. This proposed service would entail, in the aggregate, an allocation of one available HAV frequency and effectively impact directly four Florida communities.  Year-round five times weekly non-stop service between HAV and Key West International Airport, complemented by single plane same flight number continuing service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and year-round two times weekly non-stop service between HAV and Jacksonville International Airport, complemented by single plane same flight number continuing to Tampa International Airport, with each such HAV route operated on different days of the week. This proposed service would entail, in the aggregate, an allocation of one available HAV frequency, and effectively impact directly four Florida communities.  Year-round four times weekly non-stop service between HAV and RSW, complemented by single plane same flight number continuing service to MCO, and year-round three times weekly non-stop service between HAV and PBI, complemented by single plane same flight number continuing service to TPA, with each such HAV route operated on different days of the week. This proposed service would entail, in the aggregate, an allocation of one available HAV frequency.  Year-round daily non-stop service between HAV and FLL. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available HAV frequency.  Year-round daily non-stop service between HAV and PBI. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available HAV frequency.  Year-round daily non-stop service between FLL and each of Abel Santamaría Airport in Santa Clara, Frank País Airport in Holguín, Cuba, and Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba, with each such Cuba route entailing the allocation of one frequency from the available frequencies set aside for the Cuban airport concerned.  Year-round five times weekly service between FLL and Ignacio Agramonte International Airport in Camagüey. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available CMW frequency.  Year-round four times weekly service between FLL and Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Matanzas, Cuba. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available VRA frequency.  Year-round three times weekly service between FLL and each of Jardines del Rey Airport in Cayo Coco and Sierra Maestra Airport in Manzanillo, with each such Cuba route entailing the allocation of one frequency from the available frequencies set aside for the Cuban airport concerned.  Year-round two times weekly service between FLL and Jaime González Airport in Cienfuegos. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available CFG frequency.  Year-round one time per-week service between FLL and Vilo Acuña Airport in Cayo Largo, Cuba. This proposed service would entail an allocation of one available CYO frequency.

Southwest Airlines Co. hereby applies for the following frequency allocations:  Six daily frequencies for Fort Lauderdale-Havana.  Two daily frequencies for Tampa-Havana.  One daily frequency for Orlando-Havana.  Two daily frequencies for Fort Lauderdale-Varadero.  One daily frequency for Fort Lauderdale-Santa Clara.  Hereby applies an exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41101 for an indefinite period of time to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between points in the United States and points in Cuba.  Southwest will operate all of its proposed service to/from Havana with 175-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft and all three proposed round trips between FLL and VRA and SNU will be flown with 143-seat Boeing 737-700’s. Southwest will operate all designated frequencies seven days a week in all seasons of the year. Details of Southwest’s flight schedule are contained in its Cuba Frequency Allocation Application.

Spirit is requesting an exemption from 49 USC § 41101 authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between points in the United States and points in Cuba, and specifically to be awarded an allocation of two roundtrip frequencies under the terms of the US-Cuba Memorandum of Understanding dated February 16, 2016 to operate year-round between Fort Lauderdale and Havana at its ultra-low fares.  Spirit plans to initiate year-round non-stop service on this route on December 1, 2016. The flights to Havana will primarily operate with Airbus A-319 aircraft with 145 seats. Since all Spirit aircraft are a part of the common A-320 family, Spirit can substitute larger A-320 (178 seats) or A-321 (228 seats) to accommodate higher loads based on changing demand, holidays or the reduction or elimination of current travel restrictions.  If Spirit is not granted its full request, it would accept an award of one daily roundtrip frequency. Spirit would not accept a backup award.

Sun Country hereby applies for an exemption order and allocation of frequencies to provide year-round, scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and cargo between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Havana, 1-stop via Fort Myers, Florida, year-round nonstop service between RSW and HAV, and winter seasonal service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Santa Clara and Matanzas Cuba and a year-round, non-stop between MSP and HAV.  Sun Country proposes to commence twice-a-week, Friday and Monday, year-round scheduled service from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport with one stop at Southwest Florida International Airport to Havana's Jose Marti International Airport on Friday, November 11, 2016. Sun Country would further like to commence once-a-week Saturday, seasonal service from MSP to Juan Gualberto Gomez Airpmi in Matanzas, Cuba on Saturday, December 17, 2016 through April 29, 2017, and once-a week seasonal service from MSP to Abel Santamaria Airport in Santa Clara on Sunday, December 18, 2016 through April 30, 2017. Sun Country also proposes a second, twice-a-week, Saturday and Sunday, year-round scheduled service from MSP to HAV to commence on Saturday, December 17, 2016.  Sun Country will provide this new service utilizing Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 162 seats or Boeing 737-700 aircraft with 126 seats.

United applies for an exemption from 49 USC § 41101 authorizing United to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail, as follows: Year-round daily round-trip service between Newark/New York City and Havana with additional Saturday-only service, utilizing 1.1 daily frequencies (or the equivalent of eight weekly frequencies).  Year-round Saturday-only round-trip service between each of Houston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, and Havana, utilizing individually 0.1 daily frequencies and collectively 0.3 daily frequencies (or the equivalent of three weekly frequencies).  United seeks a total allocation of 1.4 daily round-trip (or the equivalent of 11 weekly) US-Cuba round-trip combination frequencies.  United proposes to start its Cuba service on August 15, 2016, or 90 days from the Department’s issuance of a final order in this proceeding, whichever occurs later. This standard start-up period is necessary to give United sufficient time to obtain Cuban government approval, establish the infrastructure necessary for its Havana operations, and generate sufficient advanced ticket sales. United asks that its exemption authority be effective for a period of at least two years and that its frequency allocation remain in effect indefinitely, subject to the Department’s standard conditions.