Silver Airways launches flights to Cuba after govt approval

Low-cost carrier Silver Airways recently launched its flights services to Cuba after getting approval from Cuban government. The airline started operating flights from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara effective from September 1, 2016.The inaugural flight departed from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 7.15 am and arrived in Abel Santamaría Airport in Cuban city of Santa Clara at 8.56 am.

Other Cuban cities where Silver Airways has started conducting regular commercial flights include Holguin, Cienfuegos and Camagüey. All these cities are being served from Fort Lauderdale. Media reports further said that Silver Airways has also applied to Cuban government for launching flights to more destinations in Cuba, which includes Manzanillo, Cayo Largo, Varadero, Cayo Coco and Santiago. These cities are also proposed to be served from Fort Lauderdale.

Silver Airways became the first airline in the United States to start selling regular scheduled flight tickets to Cuba. Apart from this, Silver Airways became the only airline in the United States to be awarded approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch flights services to all nine destinations in Cuba beyond Havana, and thus it will be offering services to more Cuban destinations than any other U.S. carrier.

Sami Teittinen, President and CEO of Silver Airways, said, “It is a matter of great delight and historic moment for the airline that flights to Cuban destinations could become possible after the historic resumption of ties between the United States and Cuba. Now, Silver Airways will become the airline of choice for Cuba after getting approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for serving all nine Cuban destinations beyond Havana, and also the Cuban government’s approval to launch first flights.”

Silver Airways mostly operates flights within Florida, and also to the Bahamas from Florida. Over 125 daily flights on average are operated by the airline to 26 Floridan destinations, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando. The airline also operates flights from Washington-Dulles to the Mid-Atlantic region as well.