Minnesota lawmakers push for local airlines to fly to Cuba

Minnesota senators and representatives called Tuesday on the US Department of Transportation to consider direct flights to Cuba by the local Sun Country Airlines.

According to Minnesota media, the request was made by senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with representatives Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Rick Nolan, Erik Paulsen, and Tom Emmer.

Washington and Havana recently signed a civil aviation agreement that includes regular flights giving US airlines access to 110 daily flights to the island, including 20 to the capital Havana.

Sun Country airlines is the only of its kind bidding for direct flights between Minnesota and Cuba, the reports say. "It is our hope that as you decide which airlines will operate the new daily flights to Cuba and, particularly, the 20 new flights to Havana, you will consider small American businesses like Sun Country Airlines," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, according to Minneapolis-based KMSP TV.