DOT blocks JetBlue bid to nab Alaska Air’s Havana flight
Saturday, 25 Oct, 2016
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JetBlue Airways has failed in its bid to hijack Alaska Air’s proposed service between Havana and Los Angeles.
The US transportation department allowed Alaska to delay its start date for the route from November 29 to January 5, 2017.
The Seattle-based carrier had asked for more time to start the route, which gave JetBlue a window of opportunity to nab another prized slot at Havana.
JetBlue had wanted to take over the slot to fly from Boston.
In its request to the DOT JetBlue said: "Alaska claims that starting Havana service during this time would be ‘particularly problematic,’ but ignores that every other US carrier faces the same seasonal trends."
However the agency agreed to Alaska Air’s extension, as it sees Los Angeles as a key market for direct flights to Havana.
"When we selected Alaska’s Los Angeles-Havana proposal, we did so because we concluded that Alaska’s proposal would provide important public interest benefits. The department agreed with Alaska’s assertions that US travelers from the western United States should not be denied a nonstop travel option to Havana," it said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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