O’Hare starts offering flights to Cuba
By STEFANO ESPOSITO Staff Reporter sesposito@suntimes.com November 25, 2011 6:16PM
Updated: December 27, 2011 8:08AM
A charter flight service between O’Hare International Airport and Havana, Cuba, began Friday.
One flight is scheduled to arrive at O’Hare and another set to leave Cuba Fridays, according to the city’s Department of Aviation. Starting Jan. 9, C&T is expected to add an extra flight Mondays. C&T flies a Boeing 737-400, which seats 150.
O’Hare was one of several airports authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in March to host charter flights to Cuba, according to the Aviation department. Previously, flights between Cuba and the U.S. were restricted to Miami, N.Y. and L.A.
“With growing demand by Americans to visit Cuba, we’re pleased that President Obama took the bold step of making this country more accessible to Chicagoans who want to fly directly to Cuba from O’Hare to visit family, pursue research and education, or for business reasons,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Chicago’s ability to now offer air service to Cuba demonstrates our city’s competitiveness in the global marketplace and it furthers our mission to provide direct connections to Chicago from all around the world.”
