O’Hare International Airport starts flights to Cuba

A charter flight service between O’Hare International Airport and Havana, Cuba, began Friday.For the time being, one flight is scheduled to arrive at O’Hare and another set to leave Cuba Fridays, according to the city’s Department of Aviation.Starting Jan. 9, C&T Charters are expected to add an additional flight on Mondays. C&T flies a Boeing 737-400, which seats 150 passengers.O’Hare was one of several airports authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in March of this year to host charter flights to Cuba, according to the Aviation department. Previously, flights between Cuba and the United States were restricted to Miami, New York and Los Angeles airports.

“With growing demand by Americans to visit Cuba, we’re pleased that President Obama took the bold step of making this country more accessible to Chicagoans who want to fly directly to Cuba from O’Hare to visit family, pursue research and education, or for business reasons, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Chicago’s ability to now offer air service to Cuba demonstrates our city’s competitiveness in the global marketplace and it furthers our mission to provide direct connections to Chicago from all around the world.