CHICAGO, IL โ United Airlines today submitted its latest filing to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin commercial air service to Cuba from its global gateways in Newark/New York, Houston, Washington and Chicago to Havanaโs Josรฉ Martรญ International Airport in Cuba. Unitedโs proposal for nonstop service to Havana from four of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas, home to some of the largest Cuban-American populations, would bring the most choice, convenience and competition for consumers.
โCustomers benefit most when thereโs diversity of travel options across carriers and cities. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a tremendous opportunity to make convenient and accessible travel to Cuba available to customers across the United States,โ said Steve Morrissey, Unitedโs vice president of regulatory and policy affairs. โWith a route network that offers the greatest number of flights in many of the largest U.S. cities, United is ideally positioned to maximize customer choice and access.โ
More than 15,000 customers, employees, elected officials and business leaders have sent letters to the DOT in support of Unitedโs proposal. The letters recognize that Unitedโs service will deliver significant customer choice, economic benefit and opportunity for cultural exchange to those communities and beyond.
Daily nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Unitedโs proposed daily nonstop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport would provide unique value in serving the Newark/New York City region, the largest metropolitan area in the country and home to the second-largest population of Cuban Americans.
โNewark and the metropolitan region would benefit from Unitedโs new competition in the U.S.-Cuba market,โ wrote Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. โUnitedโs proposed service will spur economic activity and job creation in the greater Newark area and will enable the nearly 80,000 Cuban Americans living in New Jersey to gain new travel options and business development opportunities. This important market should not be held back from additional travel opportunities to and from Cuba.โ
For more than 20 years, United has offered the Newark/New York City region the most flights to the most destinations around the world.
Saturday nonstop service from Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport is Unitedโs gateway to Latin America. Rated as one of the most efficient points of entry for foreign travelers, United offers 91 daily nonstop flights to 52 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Bush Intercontinental will be an important gateway for service to Havana and will directly connect 20 markets across the central and western United States to Cuba with just one stop. The Cuban-American population in the Houston metropolitan area ranks eighth nationally.
โHouston is often described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major city in the U.S. Almost one in four Houstonians was born outside of the country โ many of whom are among the 2.3 million Houstonians that claim a Hispanic or Latino origin,โ wrote Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, in a letter to Secretary Foxx. โHouston is likely to emerge as a key gateway for U.S.-Cuban relations over time.โ
Saturday nonstop service from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The Washington metropolitan area is home to the nationโs tenth-largest Cuban-American population and to key political and economic organizations building the U.S.-Cuba relationship. Unitedโs service between Washington Dulles and Havana will link two international capitals with weekly nonstop service.
โUnitedโs Washington Dulles-Havana service would naturally provide an important link between capital cities, fostering this capital-to-capital connection between business, government and tourists,โ wrote Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC, in a letter to Secretary Foxx. โIt will also serve a promising and growing export and diplomatic market.โ
Saturday nonstop service from Chicago OโHare International Airport (ORD)
Chicago is home to the countryโs sixth-largest Cuban-American community. United, Chicagoโs hometown airline, offers nearly 500 daily flights from OโHare, which the Airport Connectivity Quality Index noted for having the best connections to other U.S. airports, large and small.
โSpecifically this new route from Chicago to Havana would provide us with far better and more competitive access to the rich cultural resources of Cuba,โ wrote Daniel J. Schmidt, president and CEO of WTTW and WFMT, in a letter to Secretary Foxx.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- CHICAGO, IL โ United Airlines today submitted its latest filing to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin commercial air service to Cuba from its global gateways in Newark/New York, Houston, Washington and Chicago to Havana's Josรฉ Martรญ International Airport in Cuba.
- United's proposed daily nonstop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport would provide unique value in serving the Newark/New York City region, the largest metropolitan area in the country and home to the second-largest population of Cuban Americans.
- Department of Transportation has a tremendous opportunity to make convenient and accessible travel to Cuba available to customers across the United States,โ said Steve Morrissey, United's vice president of regulatory and policy affairs.