The U.S. State Department has confirmed yesterday’s press reports that the U.S. and Cuba have come to agreement on resuming regular commercial flights between the countries, with service starting in the first half of 2016.
However, the U.S. restrictions on tourist travel to the island remain in place; travelers will still need to self-certify that they fall into one of the allowed categories of travel, which include cultural activities, journalism, academic pursuits, people-to-people programs, humanitarian or religious work and visits to family members in Cuba.
Despite the continuing restrictions, U.S. travel to Cuba has increased by over 50% during the year since the thaw in relations was announced.
One thorny aspect, aside from technical details, is that Cuba’s Cubana airline will gain rights to fly to U.S. destinations, but under 50-year-old laws seizing Cuban property in the U.S. in retaliation for Cuba’s nationalization of U.S. properties, its planes could be seized when they landed. Cuba is likely, therefore, to lease planes belonging to others for those routes, or to arrange code-shares.
From the Washington Post, MORE
