U.S., Cuba announce they will resume scheduled commercial airline service

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Business | Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:51am EST

U.S., Cuba announce they will resume scheduled commercial airline service

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK | BY ARSHAD MOHAMMED AND JEFFREY DASTIN

The United States and Cuba have agreed to restore scheduled commercial airline service between the two countries, the two countries said on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Cold War foes' announcement they would normalize relations.

The deal, the latest step this year to restore U.S.-Cuba ties after more than half a century of hostility, is expected to increase tourism and business on the communist-ruled island.

It will allow U.S. airlines to sell tickets on their websites for flights to Cuba. However, the move does not lift the U.S. ban on general tourism to the Caribbean island. U.S. travelers still must meet at least one of 12 criteria to visit, such as being Cuban-American or partaking in educational tours or journalistic activity.

Charter flights operated by U.S. carriers already connect the countries.

"While U.S. law continues to prohibit travel to Cuba for tourist activities, a stronger civil aviation relationship will facilitate growth in authorized travel between our two countries— a critical component of the President’s policy toward Cuba," the U.S. State Department said in a statement announcing the deal.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-aviation-idUSKBN0U01XZ20151217

[Judi Lynn]

1. Not good as long as only Cuban Americans, journalists, and educational tours are allowed.

This discriminates against the American people, unless they want to hire journalists or teachers to be their "designated tourists."