Now that the Department of Transportation has given approval to eight airlines to start scheduled passenger flights to Cuba’s capital city of Havana, one might think that the elbowing and jockeying for spots would be over. Not so, as some airlines are still trying to nab coveted flights from other carriers — and failing, in the case of JetBlue.
JetBlue has been trying to take over Alaska Air’s planned service from Los Angeles to Havana and move it to Boston, Bloomberg reported, arguing that the rival airline’s request to delay the start of that service by five weeks means it doesn’t have its act together.
Alaska was supposed to begin service on Nov. 29, but asked permission from regulators to move that date to Jan. 5 so it could have more time to drum up excitement and give customers more time to plan their Cuba trips.
The DOT said that was perfectly fine, according to an Oct. 22 regulatory filing, and the benefits of keeping Alaska’s flight to Havana from L.A. outweighed JetBlue’s route.
Other airlines have secured two-day extensions from their original start dates. Even JetBlue is trying to get a an extension: it’s seeking a one-day delay for one of its flights From Fort Lauderdale, FL to Havana, and a two-day delay for the other.
Alaska Air Fends Off JetBlue Challenge to Prized Havana Flight [Bloomberg]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist