By ERIC TORBENSON / Staff Writer
etorbenson@dallasnews.com
Published 03 February 2011 08:09 PM
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is in talks with government
officials and airlines to become a designated gateway to Cuba.
Only airports in Miami, Los Angeles and New York have the designation to
allow some flights to Cuba, which still faces a variety of trade
restrictions. The Obama administration has loosened some of the rules,
opening the chance for more airports to serve as gateways to Cuba.
The move wouldn't mean commercial service initially; only
government-approved, educational and religious groups can charter the
flights from approved gateways. Most tourists access Cuba by flying
first to Mexico and then flying from there.
The initial talks about the gateway designation, aided by Fort
Worth-based American Airlines Inc., could help some of the estimated
190,000 Cuban-Americans living in North Texas get to Cuba.
If the charter flying is allowed and becomes successful, it could pave
the way for commercial flying down the road, D/FW staff told the board
Thursday.
Also Thursday, the airport nominated and elected Francisco Hernandez of
Fort Worth as chairman of the board. Hernandez, a lawyer, was previously
the vice chair to Ben Muro, whose term as chairman expired. D/FW Airport
is owned by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.
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