by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:43 PM ET, Fri March 30, 2018
United Airlines announced Friday that it had tentatively been awarded authority to begin offering daily, non-stop service between Texas and Cuba.
Once the United States Department of Transportation gives its final approval, United and Mesa Airlines will be permitted to fly between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, expanding the service from Saturday-only to daily.
The route was originally launched December 2016, and United has deemed the service a success after providing thousands of customers with greater choice when planning travel to Cuba.
Houston is geographically well situated to connect flights from the central and western states to Havana, and the increased service will ensure greater competition in the marketplace and improve air service opportunities to Cuba.
"On behalf of United Airlines, we applaud the U.S. Department of Transportation's decision to increase United service between Houston and Havana from Saturday-only to daily," United vice president Steve Morrissey said in a statement.
"We also want to congratulate Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, as well as Texas Congressmen Kevin Brady, Gene Green, Pete Olson, Ted Poe, the Houston Airport System, the Greater Houston Partnership and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for supporting our collective goal to improve air service between Houston and Havana and offering customers throughout the central and western United States more opportunities to make convenient connections in Houston," Morrissey continued.
The flights between Houston and Havana will take place with either a Boeing 737-800 or Embraer E175 when flying United, and Mesa Airlines will operate regional jet aircraft as United Express.
In 2017, United opened its first city ticket office in Havana, which enabled the airline to provide Cubans and other international customers the opportunity to purchase travel with the carrier.
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