US and Cuba will on Tuesday a new step in its rapprochement with the
signing of an understanding on civil aviation authorizing nothing less
than to 110 daily scheduled flights to Havana and nine destinations on
the island.
According to officials from the departments of State and Transport, local authorities immediately begin the process of inviting American airlines interested in operating these frequencies, and expect attributed destinations as early as next summer.
After a year of negotiations, the two countries shall affix his signature this Tuesday a memorandum of understanding in Havana that represents one of the most effective steps in the rapprochement between the two countries after half a century of rupture.
The negotiated document provides for the authorization of regular flights "between any US city and any city in Cuba" provided it is equipped with infrastructure for international flights.
"Initially, US companies will be allowed to fly 20 regular daily frequencies to Havana, the largest market, and it is important to remember that the current level is zero," said Thomas Engle, assistant secretary of the Transport Division in the Department of State.
At the same time, these companies will be authorized to carry out "ten daily scheduled flights to any city in Cuba that has an airport open to international service," he added.
At the moment, the US authorities included in the understanding airports Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, Matanzas, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba.
According to officials from the departments of State and Transport, local authorities immediately begin the process of inviting American airlines interested in operating these frequencies, and expect attributed destinations as early as next summer.
After a year of negotiations, the two countries shall affix his signature this Tuesday a memorandum of understanding in Havana that represents one of the most effective steps in the rapprochement between the two countries after half a century of rupture.
The negotiated document provides for the authorization of regular flights "between any US city and any city in Cuba" provided it is equipped with infrastructure for international flights.
"Initially, US companies will be allowed to fly 20 regular daily frequencies to Havana, the largest market, and it is important to remember that the current level is zero," said Thomas Engle, assistant secretary of the Transport Division in the Department of State.
At the same time, these companies will be authorized to carry out "ten daily scheduled flights to any city in Cuba that has an airport open to international service," he added.
At the moment, the US authorities included in the understanding airports Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, Matanzas, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba.