A bilateral agreement between the US and Cuba will be signed today, re-establishing scheduled air services between the two countries after more than 50 years.
US Department of Transportation (DoT) Secretary Anthony Foxx and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin will travel to Cuban capital Havana to seal the deal.
“This arrangement will continue to allow charter flight operations. While US law prohibits travel to Cuba for tourist activities, this arrangement will facilitate authorised travel, enhance traveller choices, and strengthen people-to-people links between the two countries. Scheduled services are expected to commence sometime later this year," said the DoT.
The agreement is expected to trigger intense competition among US airlines for routes and airport slots to a destination that has been off-limits since the 1960s.
It will provide for as many as 110 daily, round trip flights between the US and Cuba, including 20 daily flights to Havana and 10 others to airports outside the capital city.
