The FINANCIAL — Southwest Airlines Co. on November 13 inaugurated service between South Florida and Cuba with the scheduled 11:00 a.m. EST departure of Southwest Flight 3914 to Varadero (VRA) from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
143 Passengers and a Crew of five Southwest Employees donned Cuban-style hats as the aircraft departed to an orchestra playing Caribbean music and a drumroll by renowned bandleader Tito Puente, Jr., according to Southwest Airlines.
“Our Employees have worked hard to open this route and a new chapter for people who want to connect with Cubain ways that matter most to them,” said Steve Goldberg, Southwest Airlines’ Vice President of Ground Operations who is also Southwest’s executive ambassador to Florida. Goldberg also announced Southwest intends to begin once daily service from Fort Lauderdaleto Santa Clara, Cuba(SNU) on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government. “By the end of this year, we’ll offer six daily roundtrips between two Floridagateways and three Cuban cities as the work continues to open a new, five-gate international concourse here in Fort Lauderdalenext summer.”
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