Cuba and U.S. agree to resume commercial flights

The United States and Cuba have reached an arrangement on commercial flights to and from both countries amid renewed relations. But it would set in motion the safety inspections and other procedures required by the Federal Aviation Administration when such an agreement is reached.

China and Japan have been among the most coveted restricted markets during the past two decades, with USA airlines aggressively bidding on new routes as they’ve become available to those nations.

Last week, American Airlines launched charter flights between Los Angeles and Havana. Those flights often require passengers to arrive at the airport four hours in advance and impose strict baggage policies. MasterCard and Florida-based Stonegate Bank also announced the first U.S.-issued debit card eligible for use in Cuba, easing the long-standing requirement that US travelers to Cuba pay for everything in cash. It was also not yet clear how many USA flights will be allowed into Cuba. Charter flights operated by USA carriers already connect the countries.

The US and Cuba have agreed to allow regular flights between the two countries in the latest thaw in relations between the former Cold War adversaries. “Over the next year, we will continue on this path, empowering Cubans and Americans to lead the way”, Obama said.

Since presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro made the breakthrough announcement in December past year that the two governments would begin working on normalising relations, there has been rapid progress on the diplomatic and cultural fronts – but nearly nothing on business issues. Messrs. Obama and Castro twice met face to face this year and Mr. Obama said this week he hopes to travel to Cuba before the end of his second term if conditions are right.

Even though tourism is not yet legal, the number of USA citizens that visited Cuba increased by 50% in 2015, according to Jeffrey DeLaurentis, head of the US embassy in Havana.

Obama emphasized the “important steps” that have been taken over the past year to normalize relations, including reestablishing diplomatic ties with the opening of embassies in Washington and Havana, facilitating more travel and trade with Cuba and “connecting more Americans and Cubans”.

Kass said the government is expected to authorize 20 daily scheduled flights to Havana and 10 scheduled flights per day to each of the other Cuban destinations. And that means he could visit family more often.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all applauded the agreement and said they will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure rights to fly to Cuba.