• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 08 / 2011

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By: Doreen Hemlock September 7th, 2011 | 11:00 AM. Havana. Charter flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cuba will start a few days later than planned –  on Sept. 17, the company organizing the trips confirmed.

Airline Brokers Co. had aimed to start charters on Sept. 12, flying twice a week from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport  to Havana.

But instead, it will kick off with flights once a week departing Saturdays at 12:30 p.m., using an A320 aircraft operated by JetBlue Airways.

Plans call for expanding to twice-a-week service later, pending approval from Cuban authorities, said Airline Brokers President Vivian Mannerud.

Both the U.S. and Cuban governments have authorized new charters in recent months to fly between more U.S. airports and Cuba. Flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Cuba began Aug. 26, and service from Tampa starts this week.

U.S. charters to Cuba had been allowed for decades only from Miami, New York and Los Angeles airports.

Airline Brokers is an U.S. government-licensed charter operator founded in 1982. It is based in Coral Gables and has a Fort Lauderdale office. It now offers nine flights a week between Miami and Cuba.

The company provides flights to Cuba for U.S. government-approved travelers and groups to re-connect with family or for licensed academic, intellectual, cultural, scientific, humanitarian, and religious activities in Cuba.

Initial travelers from Fort Lauderdale to Cuba are expected to be mostly Cuban-Americans visiting family on the island, including many who live in Palm Beach County, travel agents say.

Source:http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/south-florida-travel/2011/09/07/cuba-change-in-lauderdale-charters-start-sept-17/