LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines
today launched the first regularly scheduled U.S. commercial
flights between Los Angeles and
Havana, Cuba.
"LAX is America's gateway to the world — and today, an exciting
new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations
begins at our airport," said Mayor Eric
Garcetti. "I am thrilled to see the first-ever commercial
flight from the West Coast to Havana take off from LAX, and grateful to
Alaska Airlines for helping connect Angelenos with people and
cultures from around the world."
Among the passengers onboard the inaugural flight are 50
political, business and cultural leaders from California and Washington state taking part in an educational
and trade mission and who are eager to learn more about the island
nation.
"We sometimes overlook the fact that air travel holds tremendous
power to connect people and overcome boundaries," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' senior vice
president of communications and external relations. "This new West
Coast service is another historic step in opening up relations
between our two countries and we're thrilled to host a delegation
of trade, tourism and educational leaders to explore Cuba's capital city."
Joining the more than 20 economic, trade and educational
organizations taking part in Alaska Airlines' Havana delegation are Sister Cities Los
Angeles Chairman Tom Gilmore
and President Fabiola Vilchez. The two will begin an
initial conversation regarding a city-to-city relationship between
Los Angeles and Havana. Also,
representatives from the University of
California Los Angeles' Center for World Health joined the
trip in hopes of exploring U.S. medical
trials for advancements in cancer and diabetes
treatments developed by Cuban doctors and medical
researchers.
One of the leaders participating in the trade mission is
University of Washington President
Ana Mari Cauce, the first Cuban-born
leader of a major American academic institution. Cauce left
Cuba when she was three-years old
and went on to excel in teaching, scholarship and advocacy in
the United States.
"I'm thrilled at this new spirit of openness and the opportunity
for us to build greater ties with the people of Cuba," said Cauce. "We have much to share and
learn about the Cuban people's work in health care and education.
This visit is a high point for me personally and
professionally."
Also participating in the trade mission visit is Bill Allen, President and CEO of the Los Angeles
County Economic Development Corporation. The LAEDC is interested in
learning more about the emerging private sector that is taking root
in Cuba along with beginning
discussions on everything from infrastructure redevelopment to
increased trade.
"Travel promotes people-to-people exchanges and holds the
potential to foster understanding between the peoples and cultures
of our two cities," said Ernest Wooden
Jr., President and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism &
Convention Board. "Opening up channels like this between
Cuba and the West Coast through
air service will further assist building these vital
connections."
Havana inaugural flight
isn't Alaska's first flight to
Cuba
While the inaugural
flight to Havana is a first for
Alaska, it isn't the first time
the airline has flown to Cuba. In
the early 1970s, Alaska flew U.S.
Military Airlift Command charter flights to the base at
Guantanamo Bay, as well as
charters to Caribbean locations
such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Panama. Learn more about the charter service
and explore Ernest Hemingway's
Havana at blog.alaskaair.com.
Schedule of new service:
Start date
|
City pair
|
Departs
|
Arrives
|
Frequency
|
Jan. 5
|
Seattle-Los
Angeles
|
5 a.m.
|
7:39 a.m.
|
Daily
|
Jan. 5
|
Los
Angeles-Havana
|
8:50 a.m.
|
4:55 p.m.
|
Daily
|
Jan. 5
|
Havana-Los
Angeles
|
5:55 p.m.
|
8:45 p.m.
|
Daily
|
Jan. 5/6
|
Los
Angeles-Seattle
|
11:45 p.m.
|
2:35 a.m.
|
Daily
|
Flight times based on
local times zones.
|
The Havana flight will operate
using a fuel-efficient Boeing 737-900ER. Onboard, customers will
enjoy Alaska's award-winning
service, along with features to help make the most of their flight
– for work or pleasure. Alaska Beyond Entertainment offers free and
premium entertainment direct to customer devices. Other onboard
amenities include a selection of food and beverage inspired by
local flavors, custom leather seats with adjustable headrests, and
power outlets for laptops and personal devices at every seat.
To purchase tickets to Havana,
visit www.alaskaair.com/cuba or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR
(800-252-7522 or Hearing & Speech Impaired (TTY): Dial 711 for
Relay Services).
A Spanish translation of this release is available at
newsroom.alaskaair.com/Alaska-Airlines-inaugura-La-Habana. B-roll
and photos will be available at 12 p.m.
PST at newsroom.alaskaair.com.
Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional
partners, flies 40 million customers a year to more than 118
destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across
the United States and
to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, customers
can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations
worldwide. Learn more about Alaska's award-winning service and unmatched
reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com.
Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of
Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-launches-first-west-coast-commercial-air-service-to-havana-300386626.html
SOURCE Alaska Airlines