Alaska Airlines to start L.A.-Havana flights

The airline said it plans to launch flights from Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba Jan. 5.

   Alaska Airlines said it plans to start daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba Jan. 5.
   The flights were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation in August, and remain subject to approval by the Cuban aviation authorities.
   “We are focused on strengthening our presence in the Los Angeles area, with daily service to 25 destinations from four area airports,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska’s chief commercial officer, in a press release. “With the addition of nonstop flights to and from two cities in Costa Rica last fall, and now Havana, we’ll offer up to 87 peak season weekly departures from Southern California to Latin America.”
   The airline didn’t indicate the type of aircraft it will operate on the Los Angeles-Havana route or how much air cargo it expects to handle in its passenger planes.