Starting January 5, 2017, Alaska Airlines will begin offering flights to and from Los Angeles, California, to Havana, Cuba. Daily flights will depart Los Angeles at 8:50 a.m. and arrive in Havana around 4:55 p.m., local times. Departures from Havana are scheduled to leave at 5:55 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 8:45 p.m., also local times.
The flights were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in August and have yet to be approved by Cuban aviation authorities. The nonstop flight is among the first of regularly scheduled commercial flights to the island country in over 50 years, and is the only nonstop flight to Cuba from the West Coast.
With the addition of the flights to Cuba, Alaska Airlines’ passengers traveling from Los Angeles can now reach 22 different destinations on Alaska Airlines 275+ weekly flights, with 84 nonstop destinations worldwide via Alaska’s expansive network of global partners. Passengers flying from Seattle to Anchorage will also enjoy convenient connections through the new route.
To aid customers interested in traveling to Cuba, Alaska is currently working with Cuba Travel Services. Travelers are encouraged to contact Cuba Travel Services for assistance in securing travel visas, booking hotels and lodging as well as acquiring ground transportation and creating itineraries.
Travelers should remember that traveling to Cuba requires advance planning, as the U.S. government doesn’t currently allow U.S. citizens or travelers flying on U.S. airlines to visit Cuba strictly for tourism. Travelers must fall into one of 12 newly approved categories, such as family visits, educational activities, public performances or exhibitions.
Tickets for the new routes are on sale now with fares starting from $229. To purchase tickets, visit www.alaskaair.com or call 1-800-Alaska-Air.