Local airports not authorized to offer flights to Cuba

Local airports not authorized to offer flights to Cuba
By Nick Iannelli | @NickWTOP
July 9, 2016 2:05 pm

WASHINGTON — In a major letdown to local leaders who wanted to see
flights from D.C. to Cuba, the U.S. Department of Transportation has
decided to leave local airports off a list of places that are authorized
to offer flights to Havana.

Under the department's decision, flights to Cuba's capital will be
departing from ten U.S. airports as early as the fall.

The airports include Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City, Orlando and Tampa.

"Restoring regular air service holds tremendous potential to reunite
Cuban American families and foster education and opportunities for
American businesses of all sizes," said U.S. Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx.

Dulles International Airport was considered as a possibility, but it was
ultimately turned down.

In a statement, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce said it was
"disappointed in the decision" but "hopeful that the application will
ultimately be approved and Northern Virginia businesses will gain access
to this new market."

Under an agreement between the U.S. and Cuba, each country may operate
up to 20 daily roundtrip flights between U.S. cities and Havana.

Also, each country can have up to 10 daily roundtrip flights between
U.S. cities and each of Cuba's nine international airports, which are
not in Havana. The Department of Transportation announced in June that
airports authorized to offer that particular service include Miami, Fort
Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Philadelphia.

Airlines passengers from the U.S. who wish to visit Cuba need to meet
one of 12 conditions in order to fly there. Simply being a tourist is
not among them.

Here are the conditions:

Family visits
Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and
certain intergovernmental organizations
Journalistic activity
Professional research and professional meetings
Educational activities
Religious activities
Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other
competitions, and exhibitions
Support for the Cuban people
Humanitarian projects
Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information
materials
Certain authorized export transactions
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Source: Local airports not authorized to offer flights to Cuba - WTOP -
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