Travel News

American Airlines petitions for commercial flights to Cuba in 2016

American Airlines is hot for Cuba.

American Eagle Airlines

American Airlines has submitted a proposal for the Department of Transportation to introduce regularly scheduled flights to Cuba. If approved, it will permit scheduled air service between the two countries for the first time in more than 50 years.

American Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker said the proposal represents the next step in connecting the U.S. with Cuba. "We look forward to establishing scheduled service to Cuba in 2016, from Miami and other American hubs," he said in a release.

American has operated only charter service to Cuba, since 1991, with flights from Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles to five Cuban destinations: Camagüey (CMW), Cienfuegos (CFG), Havana (HAV), Holguin (HOG), and Santa Clara (SNU). This year, American will operate approximately 1,200 charter flights to Cuba, a 9 percent increase from 2014.

On December 12, American launched new charter service, offering flights between LAX and Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana.

American is also increasing its flights to other Caribbean ports, such as DFW to Grand Cayman and Punta Cana, LAX to Montego Bay, and Charlotte to Curacao and Puerto Plata.

vacation transportation

DART News

DART launches scooter parking pilot program at 4 Dallas rail stations

DART

Scooter parking for DART

In a new pilot program, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is making room for scooters: According to a release, four DART stations will now have dedicated parking zones for scooters.

DART will unveil six designated scooter parking zones at four of its highest-traffic stations. Each of the zones will be specifically marked and provide a controlled space for users to park scooters, leaving them clear of walkways, platforms and rail or bus paths, where they can disrupt train and bus service.

The designated scooter parking zones can be found at:

CBD West Transit Center – just east and behind the bus shelter
Victory Station – next to tap and go pay stations along the walkway to the American Airlines Center and next to the southernmost crossing at the rail platform
EBJ/Union Station – on the sidewalk near the north and south entrances to Union Station
SMU/Mockingbird Station – next to bike racks along the walkway from station platform

The pilot program is expected to run a few months beginning in December.

DART will collaborate with the City of Dallas to process the data to scooter rental companies to ensure that the scooters are equipped with geofencing technology allowing the marking of their locations.

With motorized scooters becoming a common mode of "micro transit" for commuters, DART hopes to clear clutter and walking hazards for rail and bus customers, while also provide those who use scooters a quick and reliable way to access or park them.

“Whether people like them or not, scooters have become a popular form of transportation across our service area,” says DART VP of capital design and construction Trey Walker. “We’re acknowledging this fact while attempting to get ahead of scooter clutter at our stations with this pilot program. We want to ensure that our transit stations remain safe, and we continue to maximize efficiency with our train and bus operations.”

Scooter companies, Lime and Bird, are also partnering with DART to incorporate scooter locations near transit stations on the GoPass app, making it easier for riders to find scooters to utilize and complete their journey. DART staff will also monitor the usage of the scooter parking zones and gather public feedback regarding their effectiveness during the pilot.