Icelandair will use a Boeing B757 to operate charter flights between the US and Cuba on behalf of World Atlantic Airlines. Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
Last month, Icelandair won approval to fly up to 31 round trip flights a week between the United States and Cuba under a wet lease agreement with World Atlantic Airlines. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) approved the wet lease arrangement despite strong objections from pilot unions, including the Air Line Pilots Association, and other US carriers. The objectors argued that the contract should be awarded to US carriers, thereby creating economic activity and jobs within the US. The DOT rejected those arguments and granted Icelandair permission to operate the charters, using one of their Boeing B757s, from July 14 until October 15, 2022.
In an insight into their reasoning, DOT said that World Atlantic had clearly argued why Icelandair was best suited to meet its needs. DOT added that this factor, along with other findings, “supports the granting of the requested authority under our well-established public interest standards for considering requests of this nature.” The partnership between Icelandair and World Atlantic adds a touch of irony, given that World Atlantic was one of a group of airlines who had earlier objected to Icelandair operating charter flights to Cuba on behalf of tour operators, an argument that DOT also rejected.
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Publish date : 2022-08-12 03:00:00
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