Regularly scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba may now only be a few months away, the vice president of regulatory affairs for the world's largest airline predicted this week.

American Airlines executive Howard Kass told the Miami Herald that, after Washington and Havana reached a preliminary agreement on flight connections on Dec. 16, 2015, paperwork is all that is left before U.S. jets can take off for the Caribbean island unimpeded.

Airlines depend on 'swift' government action

Working with the bureaucracy can be tedious, and carriers are still awaiting word from the U.S. Department of Transportation on when they can submit specific route requests. But Kass said he was optimistic that the wait was almost over.

"We still believe we'll be flying scheduled service to Cuba within the first half of 2016," Kass said. "We're optimistic that (the department) will move swiftly to permit U.S. carriers to offer scheduled service."

Once all roadblocks are out of the way, experts predict airlines might schedule up to 20 daily flights in and out of the Cuban capital, with connections between the United States and other cities on the island to come as well.

Cuban state carrier wants part of the profit

Meanwhile, Cubana de Aviación -- the Cuban flag carrier -- also wants a share of that lucrative pie, the government in Havana has insisted.

Josefina Vidal, the head of the Cuban Foreign Relations Ministry's U.S. division, told the state-run Cuban News Agency (ACN) last week that American airlines will be required to sign contracts with the national carrier, as well as the country's Civil Aeronautics Institute.

"It's a complex task, very technical, and the United States must complete various steps, bidding (on routes), because there are many airlines and all have equal rights in terms of market share," she said.

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