American Airlines announced Tuesday that it would begin nonstop service later this year between Los Angeles and Havana, Cuba’s first direct connection to the West Coast in decades.
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The charter flight, which will operate weekly on Saturdays, is a partnership with Cuba Travel Services, which has worked with U.S. carriers to expand travel options since diplomatic relations with the island nation have been restored.
American Airlines was already flying charters to the island in 1991 from Florida, serving the large Cuban community. American plans to offer another Saturday charter flight from Miami to Havana.
“It’s almost like the airlines have been getting practice serving Cuba so when the day scheduled service could be resumed, the airlines would be ready”, he said.
AA became the second major US airline to take advantage of the relaxation of restrictions on travel between the two countries.
Under current law, Americans may only visit Cuba for business trips, family visits or so-called people-to-people cultural exchanges.
The newspaper reported American said it could eventually offer commercial flights to Cuba if Congress fully lifts the travel ban.
Discussions currently under way could further ease restrictions by letting travelers directly book flights to Cuba on travel websites, according to a White House official.
Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during the flag-raising ceremony at the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Cuba, August 14, 2015, in Havana.
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American has flown sanctioned charter flights to Cuba since 1991. Administration officers tell the Journal in that one purpose of completing an agreement can be to make Obama’s thaw towards Cuba so much an extent of U.S. analysis in that it will be impossible for his successor to reverse. Stephanie Stoughton contributed from Washington.
