Updated on March 4, 2016
Southwest Airlines DC-3 Inaugurates Regular Service Between the U.S. and Cuba
Tropic Turquoise 1958 Chevy passes behind a landing Southwest Airlines DC-3 in Havana. Despite having a lot of windows, the DC-3 carries just 21 passengers
Cuba’s roads are teeming with American cars from the 40’s and 50’s, so when the first Southwest Airlines DC-3 landed in Cuba yesterday, it was no surprise that many of the 12 passengers were there to see the cars. And relieved to be on the ground.
The sputtering and smoking DC-3 was greeted at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport by a large, friendly crowd and a Mariachi band — And also a 1952 American LaFrance fire engine, due to clouds of oily smoke and some colorful flames shooting from the plane’s left engine.
1948 Ford F-6 fuel truck at Havana’s Jose Marti Airport enroute to refuel Southwest’s DC-3 before its return flight to Miami
American Airlines has also announced it will begin daily Miami to Havana service using 89-passenger Douglas DC-6’s, and Delta Airlines next week will inaugurate non-stop Lockheed Constellation service between Atlanta and Havana.
“Yeah, we’re pretty sure the Connie can make it that far,” Delta spokeswoman Gladiola Buxton assured us.
