American Becomes First Commercial Carrier to Fly From Miami to Havana

MIAMI, FL — While the world contemplates Cuba's future, American Airlines inaugurated its new daily flight service from Miami to Havana on Monday, becoming the first commercial U.S. carrier to fly into the communist capital in more than 50 years.

"It's a monumental day of great historic relevance with Miami being the epicenter of the Cuban-American community and American's hub for the region," said Ralph Lopez, AA's vice president for its Miami hub. "We're excited to live in these exciting times and serve Havana."

The flight followed an historic thaw in relations that began two years ago and culminated with the re-opening of embassies that had been shuttered for more than five decades in the United States and its island neighbor.

American Airlines flight 17 departed gate D30 of Miami International Airport's Terminal N at 7:23 a.m. — seven minutes early — and touched down at 8:25 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. on-time arrival at gate 14 of José Martí International Airport's Terminal 3.

American marked the occasion with a water cannon salute as the plane taxied away from the gate in Miami. Guests and passengers also were offered Cuban pastries and coffee.

The slightly more than one hour flight coincided with Cuba's official period of public mourning for former President Fidel Castro, who died on Friday at the age of 90.

A California man who was one of the 147 passengers and six crew members to make the journey, told a local television news crew in Miami before the flight that he didn't know what to expect under the circumstances.

"We just came at a very, very sad time for people. So we’re going to be respectful," he explained.

Shortly after the historic flight landed in Cuba, President-elect Donald Trump offered a stern tweet to the post-Fidel government headed by President Raul Castro, brother of the former president.

Starting on Wednesday, American will begin four daily flights to Havana from Miami International Airport. The airline now offers a total of eight daily flights between Miami and Holguin, Santa Clara, Varadero, Camagüey and Cienfuegos.

"In total, we will have 12 daily flights to Cuba from MIA and one daily flight from Charlotte beginning on Nov. 30," an American spokesman told Patch.

Photo of Flight 17 courtesy of American Airlines.