Historic Air Service to Begin Between Cuba and Atlanta

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has received federal authorization to serve as a port of entry for flights to and from Cuba. Today, the Airport received official word from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that its application to offer passenger air service to and from the island nation has been approved.

Hartsfield-Jackson becomes one of only a handful of U.S. gateways to Cuba. The previous ones are in Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) and Miami (MIA).

"The president and his administration deserve many thanks for allowing more points of entry into Cuba," said Aviation General Manager Louis Miller. "As Hartsfield-Jackson is the largest hub in the United States, this new service will allow tens of thousands of Cuban Americans across the country to easily reunite with their friends and families, whom they may not have seen for many years."

More than 80 percent of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight of Atlanta.

Although charter flights to and from Cuba now will be allowed, travel will be restricted to "purposeful" travel. Passengers must have close relatives in Cuba or must be involved in the medical or agricultural business sectors. Travel for education and religious activities is also permitted. Flights between Atlanta and Cuba are expected to be available by this summer or early fall.