US, Cuba ink deal to restore scheduled flights

The U.S. and Cuba signed an agreement Tuesday that will enable the reestablishment of direct commercial flights between the two countries for the first time in more than five decades.

The flights represent a “critically important milestone in the US effort to engage with Cuba”, said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, according to the BBC.

As the White House press release noted: “The new arrangement provides each country with the opportunity to operate up to 20 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and Havana”.

The agreement has been in discussions since past year when U.S. President Barack Obama announced the plan to ease travel restrictions and trade relations with Cuba. The coming weeks are seen as particularly crucial to building momentum ahead of a trip he hopes to make to Havana by the end of March.

They may also “fly 10 scheduled frequencies per day to any other city in Cuba that has an airport open to worldwide service”. USA travelers are still technically prohibited from visiting Cuba for tourism, travel under 12 categories is, however, permitted.

The air service agreement also allows for flights by Cuban airlines to the USA, though these will likely be limited, because lingering judgments against Cuba would mean state carrier Cubana’s airplanes could be seized by U.S. courts.

The bidding process is scheduled to begin on Wednesday with U.S. airlines presenting their bids to the Department of Transportation for the routes they want to secure. Today U.S. and Cuban officials signed an agreement to resume commercial flights between the two countries. Flights operated by commercial air carriers could begin operating as early as next fall.

Last year Frontier reported on a landmark decision, allowing United States travellers to import up to $100 worth of Cuban tobacco and alcohol in the country.

Cuba’s foreign ministry announced that authorities from both countries will meet Tuesday at the National Hotel in Havana for a signing ceremony. Currently, American offers 24 weekly charters to Cuba from Miami; Tampa, Fla.; and Los Angeles. United plans to apply to offer service from some of its global hubs to Havana. It now does not fly charters to Cuba. The carrier now flies charters to various Cuban destinations out of New York, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.