JetBlue Offers $99 Flights To Cuba

(RTTNews) - JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) said it will launch commercial flights to Cuba on August 31, 2016. The company will begin flights from its Fort Lauderdale hub to the three Cuban cities of Santa Clara, Camagüey and Holguin.

The low-cost carrier's fares begin at $99 one way and includes Cuban government-required health insurance. Seats on the three routes are available for purchase from Thursday for customers who meet government travel requirements.

In June, the U.S. Department of Transportation had approved six U.S.-based airlines, including JetBlue, to begin commercial flights to Cuba.

Starting August 31, the airline's flights to Santa Clara's Abel Santamaría Airport will operate three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Daily flights will begin October 1.

Daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Camagüey's Ignacio Agramonte Airport will begin November 3. The flights to Holguín's Frank País Airport will also be operated on a daily basis from November 10.

JetBlue said its fares to Cuba offer the same amenities to routes in the Caribbean like - free seat-back entertainment, free Fly-Fi wireless Internet, unlimited complimentary snacks and soft drinks, and the most legroom in coach. Flights between the U.S. and Cuba will be operated on JetBlue's Airbus A320 aircraft.

JetBlue said it is introducing a low starting fare to make Cuba more accessible to those visiting family members or traveling to Cuba for cultural, business or group travel.

Under U.S. regulations, every customer traveling to Cuba must complete an affidavit affirming the customer is going for one of twelve reasons of approved travel from the U.S. Department of Treasury.

JetBlue has built the completion of the affidavit right into the booking process so it can be completed in a couple of clicks. Separate from the U.S. regulated 12 categories, visitors must also obtain an entrance visa into Cuba.

To make travel more affordable, JetBlue will include at least one free checked bag, up to 50 pounds, in all of its fare options to Cuba.

In addition to the service that is out for sale, JetBlue was also tentatively awarded flights between Havana and three U.S. cities - for a total of up to seven daily round trips between the two countries. The company will announce a start date and fares for Havana later this year.