Southwest Airlines Announces Cheap, Nonstop Cuba Flights

TAMPA, FL — As Southwest Airlines prepares to open its nonstop routes from two Florida cities to Cuba, the company has rolled out a fare offer that might make some travelers happy. The airline announced Thursday its flights from Tampa International Airport and Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will have special “$59one-way” fares available.

Southwest’s route from Fort Lauderdale to Varadero, Cuba, is set to open Sunday, Nov. 13. Flights from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale to Havana are set to start Dec. 12. Travel is “subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government,” Southwest noted in a media release.

In order to cash in on the $59 one-way fares, passengers are required to book with at least 14-day advanced notice. Ticket purchases can be made starting Oct. 13 with the offer good until Nov. 20, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Travel must occur between Nov. 13 and April 24, 2017.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in July that 10 cities and eight airlines had been selected to start providing flights to Cuba.

“Today we take another important step toward delivering on President Obama’s promise to reengage Cuba,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a July media release. “Restoring regular air service holds tremendous potential to reunite Cuban American families and foster education and opportunities for American businesses of all sizes.”

• See also: Cuban-Born People Can Sail To Cuba, Carnival Announces

Tampa residents who want to hop on board a flight to Havana will have to meet a number of regulations. The 12 categories of travel allowed include family visits, journalistic activity, professional research, religious activities and educational activities, among others. To find out more, visit the U.S. Treasury online.

A total of 12 American airline companies applied for permission to run regularly scheduled passenger and cargo service to Havana. Airlines that received tentative government approval on Thursday are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lone, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

The American and Cuban governments have agreed to a cap of 20 round-trip daily flights. The proposal calls for nonstop service to Havana from areas of America with large Cuban-American populations, along with important air travel hub cities, DOT noted.

The agreement that opened the door for nonstop commercial flights was signed by officials from both governments on Feb. 16. It paved the way for the first scheduled air service between the two countries in more than 50 years. The arrangement allows travel under one of 12 authorized categories and provides each country the ability to fly up to 20 daily round-trip flights between the U.S. and Havana.

Earlier this year, the Carnival Corporation made history when it began offering cruises to Cuba. The company’s new Fathom set sail for the first time to Cuba on May 1.

To find out more about Southwest’s flights to Cuba, visit the airline’s website.

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