US-Cuba Air services Part 2: LCCs and ULCCs rightfully argue for equal access for new services

Low cost and ultra-low fare airlines are joining large global network airlines in the race to gain a set number of frequencies from the US to Cuba, made available through a new bilateral that allows for commercial flights to resume between the two countries, for the first time in more than 50 years. JetBlue and Spirit are touting their respective strong positions in the South Florida market, which is home to the largest Cuban American population in the US. Similarly to American, JetBlue is arguing that many of its focus cities are the largest markets for US-Cuba air services.

Alaska has joined American in applying to operate services from Los Angeles to Havana, promoting the fact that the city's metro area is home to the largest Cuban population outside the US east coast. Alaska submits that its offerings are an important alternative to the dominance of the four largest US airlines. Southwest is not so vocal in its applications to serve Cuba from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando. A major component of the argument offered by Frontier is that it is the only ULCC operating from Miami, which along with Fort Lauderdale encompasses the South Florida air travel market.

US regulators are evaluating the merits of inclusion presented by LCCs and ULCCs, which are that the large US airlines need competition from low fare airlines on routes to Cuba. It is highly likely that one or more of those airlines will be partially successful in launching scheduled flights to the hitherto closed-off island nation.