By RONNIE CROCKER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 8, 2011, 10:24PM
Houston Airport System officials are evaluating the market potential for
charter flights to Cuba after Bush Intercontinental Airport was named
one of 10 U.S. airports that can begin offering such flights in limited
situations.
"We're going to do everything we can to position Houston as a gateway to
Cuba," said Genaro Peña, air service development director for the
airport system.
Peña said the system has been in "very preliminary" discussions with
several, mostly Florida-based operators already authorized for such
flights. He said no individuals or groups have inquired about arranging
trips yet.
The charter-only flights would be limited to family visits and trips for
authorized groups in a small number of specific areas, including
agriculture, medicine, education and religious activity.
"The door is open maybe half an inch, maybe an inch," Peña said. "It's
very limited."
Still, he called it "a real exciting opportunity for us."
Until recently, only three domestic airports were authorized to offer
charter service to the island country, the subject of a U.S. embargo
that has been in place for half a century.
The Obama administration, while maintaining the embargo, has ordered the
easing of some prohibitions on Cuban travel and other interactions. On
March 24, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection expanded to 13 the airports that can offer charter service.
Bush Intercontinental and Dallas-Fort Worth International were the only
Texas airports on the list.
Also included were airports in Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, Chicago,
Pittsburgh, Tampa, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Previously, flights could be arranged only from Miami International, Los
Angeles International and New York's John F. Kennedy International airports.
Peña said Houston is in a position to benefit from increased Cuba travel
because of its airport capacity and experience in Spanish-speaking
countries. Plus, he said, there is likely customer demand from groups
involved in Texas agriculture and the universities and the medical
industry prominent in the Houston area.
Peña said the potential could be even bigger if the U.S. were to end the
embargo altogether.
"We want to make sure if that happens that Houston is a gateway to that
part of the Caribbean," he said.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/7514072.html
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