From Caribbean News Now

HAVANA, Cuba — An American Airlines 737 took off from Miami International Airport on Monday morning on the first regularly scheduled flight between Miami and the Cuban capital of Havana in more than half a century.

“It’s a monumental day of great historic relevance with Miami being the epicenter of the Cuban American community and American’s hub for the region,” said Ralph Lopez, AA’s vice president for its Miami hub. “We’re excited to live in these exciting times and serve Havana.”

American and several other airlines began flying regular routes to several Cuban cities outside the capital in late summer, but Monday’s flight was the first of the new Havana-bound service and the first of four daily flights American plans from Miami to Havana. Other flights from the US were also scheduled to arrive in Havana on Monday.

With the addition of the Havana route, American now flies to six Cuban cities.

“It’s early in the process [of opening the Cuban market], but we like where we are and that we have the most service to Cuba,” said Howard Kass, American’s vice president of regulatory affairs.

The new flights are part of the Obama administration’s opening toward Cuba, but their future could be in jeopardy depending on President-elect Donald Trump’s Cuba policies. He has said he will unravel changes made by President Barack Obama unless Cuba makes political changes.

In addition to American’s daily Miami-Havana flights, on Wednesday it is also adding service from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Havana.

JetBlue plans to start its twice-daily service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Havana on Wednesday and from Orlando on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Spirit Airlines will begin service from Fort Lauderdale, Delta Air Lines will launch service from Miami, New York’s JFK and Atlanta to Havana and Frontier also will have its inaugural flight from Miami to Havana.

Southwest will begin offering twice-daily service from Fort Lauderdale to Havana on December 12.

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