Like many domestic carriers, American Airlines didn't exactly tip its hand earlier this month when the Obama administration lifted the travel restrictions to Cuba that had been in place for more than 50 years.
On Tuesday, American put its cards right on the table.
During a conference call with reporters and analysts to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year earnings, American Airlines President Scott Kirby was asked about starting service to Cuba.
"Obviously, with the hub in Miami in particular, we'll serve Cuba on a scheduled flight basis when it's allowed," Kirby said. "We don't have anything to announce today, but we will be anxious to start serving Cuba as soon as it's legally allowed."
Two weeks ago, American issued a statement regarding the renewal of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba and said: "We are reviewing the changes to the Cuba travel policy and will continue to be guided by the laws and policies of the U.S. government and the governments of the countries we serve, as they evolve. American is the leading carrier to the Caribbean and Latin America and we have served Cuba for more than 15 years with charter flights from Miami and Tampa."
Kirby's statement on Tuesday is not so much a reversal of what the airline said previously as much as it is a confirmation of what most observers expected. More than any other airline, perhaps, American is in a unique position to serve Cuba because of its strength in Miami and South Florida.
But, that doesn't mean anything is happening at the moment. As Kirby mentioned, "legally allowed" will take some time. A commercial aviation agreement between the two countries needs to be worked out, airlines need to be selected for those routes, airports in both countries need to be picked, and more.
Moreover, trips to Cuba are limited to 12 specific reasons, including family visits and sports competitions, but general tourism is not one of them.
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