The U.S. airlines JetBlue and Southwest announced airfares to Cuba at less than 60 dollars, reducing the current costs of charter flights that oscillate between 200 and 300 dollars for the ticket.
The step can mean a historic rapprochement between the two shores of the Straits of Florida, since the plummeting in prices benefits more than 400,000 Cuban Americans who travel every year to their country of origin.
These offers, posted by the companies on their websites, will come into force starting next November.
The JetBlue flights to the Cuban capital will depart from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Airport – some 40 kilometers from Miami – with a frequency of two daily trips, except for Saturday when only one aircraft will take off. At a cost 54 dollars starting November 30, the users will be able to book airfares on the company’s digital platform.
JetBlue includes its offer between Havana and New York for 99 dollars, presented last July. It also comprises on its routes the Cuban airports of Santa Clara, Camagüey and Holguín.
Southwest, the other company enrolled in the announcements, presented the offer in a press release where it advanced the cost of the ticket at 59 dollars. With a similar frequency and points of departure as JetBlue, the promotion will come into force starting December 12 for the Havana destination and November 13 for Varadero.
Gary Kelly, president of Southwest Airlines, notified that Southwest’s clients can book their tickets now to travel to Cuba with their low rates and no hidden charges, in which the Suitcases Travel Free and where the industry’s best workers are.
The businessman added in the press release that Cuba will be the ninth country on their roadmap and that Havana will become Southwest’s 100th city, an important landmark that fills them with pride.
The offer implies making bookings 14 days in advance and purchasing the tickets starting now until November 20, 2016, to aspire to the trips to be carried out between November 13, 2016 and April 24, 2017.
Both airlines are making their promotions under the license issued by the U.S. government and Department of Transportation last July 7, when they authorized those companies and another six to make direct flights between both shores of the Straits of Florida after a more than 50-year ban.
