A former airline executive says US airlines have been ready to launch services to Cuba virtually at a moment’s notice once approval is finally given.
Former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall told CNBC airline companies have been long preparing for the day when full freedom of travel allows for regular scheduled services to Havana.
"There are a lot of companies that are cued up to provide frequent service to Cuba, and I expect there will sort of be an air bridge," Crandall said.
"There’ll be a lot of service by a lot of different companies lots of times a day," he added.
Crandall acknowledged that there is still work to be done for that to happen.
"To really free up the flow of travel, Congress has to lift the embargo that exists today," he said.
Crandall, who was American CEO from 1985 to 1998, said Cuba has the potential to be ‘an active center of business in the Caribbean’ if the ban is lifted and doesn’t believe it will quickly become overrun with tourists if US carriers start regular scheduled services.
"I don’t think the fact that there are going to be more people going to Cuba is going to discourage people from around the world want to see Cuba. It has very attractive assets of many kinds."
