But Obama has been unable to get Congress to lift the USA trade embargo.
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The inaugural trip was a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that took off Wednesday morning bound for Abel Santamaria International Airport in central Cuba. So far six other airlines (two of which include American Airlines and Silver Air) have been approved to fly to nine Cuban cities. Southwest Airlines Co LUV.N will fly from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa; Alaska Air Group Inc ALK.N from Los Angeles; Spirit Airlines Inc SAVE.O from Fort Lauderdale; and Frontier Airlines from Miami.
Historians disagree on the exact date of the last commercial flight but it appears to have been after Cuba banned incoming flights during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. JetBlue’s A-320 carrying officials, reporters and regular travelers symbolized the Obama administration’s efforts to improve relations and boost trade and travel with its former Cold War era foe.
Passenger pose for photos beside USA and Cuban national flags after landing in Santa Clara, Cuba.
Instragram user dsmission wrote on a photo of what appeared to be a JetBlue Cuba gift bag: “So honored to help @jetbluemake history today w/the first United States commercial flight to Cuba in 50 years”.
Commercial flights are expected to significantly increase the number of American visitors, although it’s not clear by how much.
Until now, people flying to Cuba had to book charter flights, which meant passengers had to arrive at the airport four hours before takeoff and were charged steep fees for luggage.
Americans without ties to Cuba have found it hard to negotiate the charters, most of which do not accept online bookings or help travellers navigate the federal affidavit still required for United States travellers to Cuba.
An average of 18 charter flights from the US already arrive at Cuban airports daily, but that number should substantially decrease with the start of regular flights.
JetBlue Airways Corp JBLU.O , Delta Air Lines Inc DAL.N and United Continental Holdings Inc UAL.N were among the winners, with most proposing to begin services later this year or early in 2017.
New commercial flights give a real prospect for US-Cuba relations, regular flights may change a lot.
Americans are allowed to visit the island on “people-to-people” cultural and educational visits, among other reasons.
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Fort Lauderdale’s airport is host to more weekly trips to Cuba than Miami, which Gale said is “a testament to the reputation of Fort Lauderdale”.
