Eight US-based have been “tentatively” awarded the rights to begin operating flights between the US and the Cuban capital Havana.
The successful airlines were: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Southwest, Spirit Airlines and United. They have all been allocated certain routes and frequencies between US cities and Havana.
American, for example, will be allowed to operate four daily flights from Miami and one daily service from Charlotte. Delta will run daily flights from Atlanta, New York JFK and Miami, and United will run a daily service from Newark Liberty and a Saturday flight from Houston.
The US Department of Transportation said that the flights from 14 US cities could begin as early as this coming autumn.
The move comes as the US continues the process of normalising economic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years.
US transportation secretary Anthony Foxx said: ““Today we take another important step toward delivering on President Obama’s promise to re-engage Cuba.
“Restoring regular air service holds tremendous potential to reunite Cuban-American families and foster education and opportunities for American businesses of all sizes.”