Scheduled U.S.-Cuba Flights Unlikely to Start This Year

The U.S. and Cuba are continuing work on re-establishing direct scheduled commercial flights, a State Department official said Thursday, though it isn't likely technical and regulatory challenges can be overcome for services to be launched this year.

A U.S. delegation met with Cuban counterparts in Havana this week for two days of technical consultations aimed at paving the way for an informal mechanism that would allow scheduled flights.

The Obama administration has been exploring an informal arrangement that would allow fliers to book flights direct with airlines rather than via package tour operators as well as further steps to loosen travel restrictions for Americans to the island nation despite the decades-old congressional ban. Officials in August expressed optimism that flights could start by December, and a number of U.S. airlines have expressed interest in launching them.

But the State Department official said this week's meeting wasn't expected to secure an informal agreement on scheduled flights, and that it isn't clear now when service could start.

The official said a third round of talks with Cuba could possibly be scheduled for this year. "Hopefully this doesn't take too long, but there's no set timetable," he said.

One sticking point is that Cuba is seeking equal flying rights for its airlines and U.S. carriers to launch scheduled services. Cuban aviation regulators and airlines would have to meet a host of U.S. technical and safety standards, which are overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration. Its officials attended this week's meeting but weren't immediately available for comment.

The State Department official declined to comment on whether U.S. carriers could potentially start scheduled service before Cuban airlines.

"Clearly the Cubans are interested in reciprocity," said the official. "We've been equally clear on the facts of our regulatory environment."

Big U.S. carriers including American Airlines Group Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp. all stand to benefit from a deal between the U.S. and Cuba to resume scheduled flights between the countries for the first time in decades.

All four airlines have said they are eager to serve Cuba when allowed and all are familiar with the island after operating charter flights over the past several years.

Cubana de Aviacion, Cuba's largest airline, operates a fleet of Russian-made jets flying to cities in South and Central America, Europe and Canada.

Cuba has 10 airports providing international service, and carriers including Virgin Atlantic Airways, which is part-owned by Delta, have in recent years launched services to the country.

Write to Doug Cameron at [e-mail]

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October 01, 2015 13:35 ET (17:35 GMT)

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