United welcomes US, Cuba agreement on commercial flights

But Mr. Obama’s loosening of restrictions on USA companies doing business with Cuba has led to few deals so far, though many major companies have visited the island to explore opportunities.

An agreement between the USA and Cuba could be imminent that would allow for regularly scheduled commercial flights between the two countries.

As the Cold War foes observe the first anniversary of a rapprochement process the State Department said the move would increase “authorized travel, enhance traveler choices, and promote people-to-people links between the two countries”.

That was almost two years after Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama shook hands at the funeral of late South African President Nelson Mandela, their first notable public encounter.

On Dec. 17, 2014, Obama said the decision to renew relations would bring an end to the failed US policy of isolating the communist island – located 90 miles south from Florida. The clinic is part of a three-day mission meant to warm relations between the US league and this baseball-loving nation. In an interview with Yahoo News, Mr. Obama said Cuba must allow foreign investors to hire Cuban employees themselves rather than through the Cuban government and needs to reform its dual currency.

Why is everyone saying that Americans can now travel to Cuba?

Nationally, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all applauded the U.S.-Cuba agreement and said they will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure rights to fly to Cuba. “I’ve made very clear in my conversations directly with President [Raul] Castro that we would continue to reach out to those who want to broaden the scope for, you know, free expression inside of Cuba”.

When Yasiel Puig, the Los Angeles Dodgers rightfielder and Cuban defector, was able to return home for a baseball goodwill tour this week without fear of detention by Cuban authorities, it was a sure sign of progress a year into the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba.

A new era began July 20, 2015, as Cuba’s blue, red and white-starred flag went up at the country’s embassy in Washington.

While flying to Cuba will become much easier and presumably less expensive, leisure tourist travel to the island is still illegal, and USA citizens are still only permitted to travel there for one of 12 approved reasons, including professional, educational, religious and humanitarian purposes.

Underlining the sensitivity of closer ties, particularly among the sizable Cuban diaspora in the United States, anti-Castro protesters hit the streets in Miami and Washington.