Flights to Cuba to resume

WASHINGTON: The United States and Cuba on Thursday announced plans to resume flights between the two nations, erasing another vestige of what had been strained ties rooted in the Cold War.

The latest progress as the countries work to build on their restoration of full diplomatic relations this summer was made public a year to the day after President Barack Obama and counterpart Raul Castro first said they would bury the hatchet.

In a short statement, the United States State Department said Washington and Havana had reached “a bilateral arrangement to establish scheduled air services between the two countries”.

This does not mean United States tourists can now start flocking to communistrun Cuba to lie on beaches, sip rum and fire up cigars.

Such travel remains illegal because the trade embargo that the United States slapped on Cuba in 1960 after Fidel Castro came to power in a communist revolution remains in effect.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the start of reconciliation, Mr Obama renewed his call for the Republican-controlled Congress to lift the embargo, which he termed the “legacy of a failed policy”.

Republicans are wary of rewarding Cuba until it improves its human rights record.

Until now only charter flights were permitted. Current United States law also allowed for special permits to visit Cuba.

The criteria for getting one of these was loosened in January.

The charter flights will continue under the new agreement and scheduled flights for non-tourist purposes will begin, according to the US statement.

Although the ban on tourist travel remains in force, the new accord will “facilitate an increase in authorised travel, enhance traveller choices and promote people-to-people links between t he two countries”.

The Cuban embassy in Washington said the two countries had reached preliminary agreement on a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of regular flights.

Its adoption by the two governments will be confirmed in the next few days, the embassy added.

Under the new arrangement airlines in the two countries can now strike deals in such areas as code-sharing and aircraft leasing, the embassy said.

Ever since the historic thaw began a year ago United States airlines have been eager to start flying to Cuba and tap its potential as a new market.

The US and Cuba formally restored diplomatic relations in July and reopened embassies in each other’s capitals.