The Cuban government has approved to have direct flights from New Orleans for the 1st time in more than 50 years; opening the entry for travel companies from anyplace in the country to apply for permits to make flight plans originating from New Orleans.

In March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreed an application from Louis Armstrong International Airport and seven other air fields to serve as a doorway to Cuba.

But after the doorway was opened on the U.S. side, endeavor to gain permission from the Cuban side for flights seemed to be moving slowly. In August, two officials from the airport and two from Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration Aimee Quirk, adviser to the mayor for economic development, and Richard Cortizas, then executive counsel to the mayor, now acting city attorney traveled to Cuba to make the case for why the Caribbean island nation should get flights from New Orleans.

Airport officials just got a letter from Cuban officials approving New Orleans as one of a handful of U.S. cities able to provide flights.

The government and airport management worked hard on creating a chance for private companies to provide flights from Armstrong International Airport to Cuba, Armstrong Airport's director of aviation, Iftikhar Ahmad, said in a news release. "We expect that private sector will benefit from this opportunity."

Quirk said the approving for flights not only creates the chance for New Orleanians to travel to Cuba, but also for people elsewhere in the country to fly to Cuba through New Orleans. Armstrong International could add to its passenger counts because of the certification for a limited number of U.S. airports, and local tourism companies could make a pitch for travelers to spend a few days enjoying music in New Orleans before departing for Havana. Tour companies from elsewhere in the country could also build route through New Orleans.

"That's one of the allurements here,” she said.

The city administration has aimed attempts to rebuild international air service from New Orleans.

Before the Cuban Revolution, New Orleans was Cuba's major trading partner in the United States. It has long been believed that if the Cuba were to open to U.S. tourism, Louisiana would stand to benefit because cruise companies would probably plan routes from New Orleans to Havana and local companies would find out new export markets in Cuba.

In January, the Obama government relaxed limitations for Americans traveling to Cuba, but it left the long standing prohibitions in place. The new regulations allow travel for cultural, academic or religious purposes; allow Americans to send money to normal citizens in Cuba; and allow for charter flights from more American cities.

In the past, only Los Angeles, Miami and New York were permitted to offer flights to Cuba. But in March, the Obama government said New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico, could also offer flights, bringing the total to 11 cities from which flights to Cuba could depart.

Airport spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut said airport and city officials made the application to attempt to open doors for local companies. Any U.S. company seeking to run flights now must obtain permit from the Department of Permits and Flight Planning Institute Civil Aeronautics of Cuba.

It's just a issue of a service provider stepping ahead and provide that service, whether it's a charter or tour operator or airline, “Wilcut said. Major airlines often have charter operations on the side.

The New Orleans tour company Destination Management Inc. is also sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury as Cuba service provider.

"It's a fresh and rising market,” Wilcut said.