Cuba and U.S. to Allow Scheduled Airline Flights in Agreement

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

February 12, 2016 — 3:35 PM EST

Airline service between the U.S. and Cuba could be expanded to dozens of scheduled flights a day later this year under an agreement both nations will sign on Tuesday.

Airlines will be allowed to fly scheduled service between Cuba and any city in the U.S. for the first time in more than 50 years, according to a press release from the Department of Transportation and the State Department. Currently, only charter flights are allowed between the two countries.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin will sign an agreement with Cuba allowing the flight expansion in Havana. It formalizes an agreement reached between the two countries on Dec. 16.

“It’s a very positive development,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs Thomas Engle said in a briefing. The agreement “will promote authorized travel between the two countries.”



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-02-12/cuba-and-u-s-to-allow-scheduled-airline-flights-in-agreement

[flamingdem]

1. I am hoping to use frequent flyer miles to visit Havana

Woo hoo!

[Judi Lynn]

3. That would be too cool, wouldn't it? n/t

[flamingdem]

5. And a relief having paid 450 for a 44 minute flight from Miami

It looks like American Airlines and Jetblue already have dibs on the route. We'll see what others get a chance. Every ticket from the US has had a Visa cost too 50-100 dollars. I think it was another way for the travel agencies to make money, the Visa is only $25 from Mexico. The agencies complained about paying landing rights to the Cubans, something like $130 per passenger. That was probably true, we'll see!

[lsewpershad]

2. Long overdue.

[dhill926]

4. great news....wanna go so bad...

rum and music and cars and people and uh....rum. did I mention rum? And the music of course....and the people who make the music. And well....the rum...

[flamingdem]

6. I recommend a tour of the Rum Museum, there's a tasting

[dhill926]

7. works for me! Gracias!