Cuba aviation deal allows 110 scheduled flights a day

Officials say the United States and Cuba have reached an understanding on restoring regularly scheduled commercial flights. It’s unclear if those flights would completely replace charters, but they appear certain to create a surge in travel that would place heavy strain on Cuba’s already overstrained tourist infrastructure.

Obama says both countries have taken important steps in that year to normalize relations. A deal could reportedly mean more than a dozen flights landing in Cuba from the US per day. U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro ended last year more than 50 years of official hostility between the nations.

But those travelling have to do so using hard to book charter flights or via third countries. Those flying sometimes must arrive at the airport four hours in advance; strict baggage limits apply.

Diplomatic exchanges between the USA and Cuba came to a screeching halt in 1961 when Washington announced that it would be breaking off its ties with Havana.

Obama told Yahoo News in an interview about the December 17 anniversary that he hopes to visit Cuba in 2016 but only if enough progress has been made in bilateral relations, he is able to meet with political dissidents, and if he can possibly “nudge the Cuban government in a new direction”.

For American travelers interested in visiting Cuba, the changes do not open the tourism gates. In the US, they are forced to email documents and payment information back and forth with an agent in the absence of online booking.

“I haven’t seen more commerce, really”.

The U.S. has expressed disappointment with what it calls Cuba’s unwillingness to cooperate with executive actions such as allowing U.S. exports to the Cuban private sector and sales of equipment to the Cuban state telecommunications company. The governments had been speaking about restoring a postal link since Obama entered office, but those talks stalled when Cuba imprisoned USA contractor Alan Gross.

He says the US still has differences with Cuba, including on human rights, and will keep raising those issues.

Cuba and the US announced last week direct mail service would restart after a 52-year interruption.

Wednesday’s understanding on aviation was reached Wednesday in Washington, officials said. “It’s been six months that it’s been in the process”.