Inaugural commercial flight from United States lands in Cuba

Passengers of a JetBlue aeroplane, the first commercial scheduled flight between the United States and Cuba in more than 50 years, carry USA and Cuban national flags after it landed at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in Santa Clara, Cuba, August 31, 2016.

JetBlue flight 387 landed at Santa Clara to a water cannon salute just before 11:00 local time, with the airline’s chief executive Robin Hayes and United States transportation secretary Anthony Foxx among the 150 passengers on board.

Airport crews looked on as JetBlue Flight 387 took off from with 150 passengers and landed in Santa Clara, Cuba.

“Travel. will build bridges between our people, and bring more revenue to those Cuban small businesses”, said President Barack Obama on his historic trip to Cuba in March, which was part of sweeping changes the White House has introduced over the last two years to restore relations between the two countries.

USA citizens are barred from visiting the island as tourists, though there are widespread exceptions, including educational travel and family visits.

“In spite of concerns about the security of Cuban airports, the Obama Administration continues to push political goals at the expense of the safety and security of the traveling public by moving forward with commercial flights between Cuba and the US”, said Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.).

The US Department of Transportation announced the selection of airlines for scheduled flights to Havana as the first scheduled service arrived in Cuba. It was the first commercial flight between the us and Cuba in more than half a century.

The two sides signed an agreement in February, allowing up to 110 daily flights between several USA cities and 10 Cuban worldwide airports, including the Cuban capital, Havana. “If anything, there’s going to be more demand than they really can meet at the beginning”, said Seth Kaplan, an analyst with Airline Weekly.

“I think many Americans will be surprised to learn that even with the restoration of scheduled flights, USA law still prevents Americans from traveling to Cuba for tourist purposes”, said James Williams, president of Engage Cuba.

“The 1st US commercial flight to #Cuba since 1961, just over a year after raising the flag at US Embassy Havana”.

“Our friends had been here and said, ‘Why don’t you come to Cuba before it’s too Westernized, before you see McDonalds and Wal-Mart and all of the other United States companies in Cuba.?'” said Gerri Hall, a USA citizen visiting Cuba.

The approved airlines now need to apply for Cuban government authority to operate the flights.

Most of the regular visitors of the island are Cuban-born Americans that have to use charter companies, which are very expensive, understaffed and troubling. DOT’s decision allocates nonstop Havana service to areas with substantial Cuban-American populations, as well as to several aviation hub cities. “This historic flight symbolises our long-term commitment to provide affordable, award-winning service between Cuba and the United States”.