The United States and Cuba are on the verge of a deal to restore regular airline flights, jumpstarting economic relations that have languished despite a year of rapid progress on the diplomatic front, Cuba’s top negotiator said on the eve of the anniversary of detente between the Cold War foes.
Advertisement
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”.
Going as a traveler is still taboo under USA law, yet American explorers overflowed the island this year under 12 classes endorsed by the legislature, including helpful, instructive and individuals to-individuals trips meant to expand correspondence between residents of both nations. In a phone interview, Scott Laurence, the senior vice president for airline planning, said that the company is excited about the possibility of servicing Cuba for commercial flights and will likely apply for routes from Orlando International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and JFK International Airport.
Even though airlines are eager to start services, scheduled flights are unlikely to start until the second quarter of 2016 as the approval process will take two to three months, he said.
He says the USA still has differences with Cuba, including on human rights, and will keep raising those issues.
US President Barack Obama himself called on Thursday for Congress to lift the embargo, calling it the “legacy of a failed policy”.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington continues to press Havana on human rights and political prisoners.
Relations between Cuba and the United States continue to thaw as a new aviation deal has been reached.
Don’t get too excited about the headlines announcing a resumption of commercial air flights between the United States and Cuba.
The United States and Cuba came to an agreement to restore commercial flights between the two countries. JetBlue will offer more nonstop flights to Cuba from New York, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.
Other U.S. airlines – American Airlines Group Inc, Delta Air Lines Inc and United Continental Holdings Inc – have all expressed interest in scheduling flights to Cuba.
“As American business leaders, scientists, academics, and artists are increasingly engaging in purposeful travel to Cuba, they are forging important new relationships with the Cuban people and supporting the country’s rising entrepreneurial class”, said Sen.
Advertisement
American said it will operate about 1,200 charter flights to Cuba this year, which is up 9 percent from those in 2014.
