Top US airlines say they're seeking regulatory approval to start flying specific routes to Cuba, ramping up competition over a limited number of opportunities to serve one of the industry's last frontiers.
Dramatising their eagerness for the coveted flights, American Airlines Group Inc, JetBlue Airways Corp and others have argued why they are best suited for the routes in memos that at times are critical of one another.
US and Cuban officials signed an arrangement two weeks ago restoring commercial air service between the countries for the first time in decades. US carriers had until March 2 to submit route applications to the US Transportation Department.
The arrangement, in the works after the Cold War foes said they would normalise ties in December 2014, allows 20 round-trip flights per day from the United States to Havana and 10 round-trip flights per day to nine other airports in Cuba.
But proposals by airlines appear to have exceeded the cap to Havana by at least 19 flights per day, with requests even higher for certain days of the week.
American Airlines Group Inc, which has the widest Latin America network of its peers, asked for 10 daily flights to Havana from its Miami hub, one per day from its hubs in Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth and one per week from Los Angeles and Chicago.
Analysts expect strong demand for airline travel from Cuban-Americans visiting relatives, leisure travellers desiring a once off-limits experience and executives evaluating commercial opportunities.
"Our application is based on where the traffic is today," American's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Howard Kass said in an interview, referring to high demand for its existing charter flights to the communist-ruled island.
The Republican majority in Congress has defied US President Barack Obama's call to rescind a long-standing trade embargo, which includes a general tourism ban to Cuba. Obama has used his executive authority to relax some travel restrictions, however.
US travellers must meet at least one of 12 criteria to visit, such as taking part in educational tours or visiting family in Cuba.
