U.S. Flight Destinations Could Include Cuba in 2016

The US and Cuba have agreed to restore scheduled commercial airline service between the two countries for the first time in more than five decades, exactly a year after they started the process of normalising relations.

Thomas Engle, the U.S. State Office’s representative aide secretary for transportation undertakings, said there could be up to 110 round-outing flights a day under the new assention, nearly quadrupling the present stream.

In addition, thanks to the change in USA policy toward Cuba, Washington is “in a stronger position” to engage “the people and governments of our hemisphere”, Obama said. The U.S.’ decision to do so was based on the 1959 Fidel Castro-led Cuban Revolution which saw U.S.-supported dictator Fulgencio Batista fall from power. News last week, Obama said he would like to visit Cuba next year, the last of his presidency, but only if he can meet with political dissidents.

The U.S. and Cuba have launched a host of bilateral dialogues, including on property claims, direct mail service, civil aviation, environmental cooperation, counternarcotics, law enforcement, human rights and telecommunications.

Nevertheless, this is more headway for the “long-forbidden island” that’s been off-limits to Americans for more than 50 years.

Cuba and the US began normalizing relations earlier this year, including the re-opening of embassies in each other’s countries.

Senators, congressional representatives, lobbyists, diplomats, current and former U.S. officials, business executives, advocates and activists-gathered Wednesday night for a “one year celebration of U.S.-Cuba ties”.

Mr. Obama wants Congress to lift the economic embargo on Cuba.

“Everybody should be happy because, through baseball, we’re uniting countries, ” Tony Castro, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, said Thursday. FILE – In this November 1, 2001, file photo, the first passengers of the first flight of Continental Airlines from Miami Florida, arrives at the Jose Marti Airport of Havana, Cuba.

Relations between Cuba and the United States continue to thaw as a new aviation deal has been reached.

The deal being thrashed out at marathon talks in Washington would open the way for USA airlines to negotiate with Cuba’s government for routes that could bring thousands more visitors a day to the island.