US – Cuba: first commercial flight after over 50 years

Commercial flights between Cuba and the United States, interrupted in the sixties, will resume today. "The resumption of regular flights is a positive step and a contribution to the process of improving relations between the two countries," said the Cuban Vice Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodriguez. The first direct flight, operated by the US airline JetBlue, will take off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, headed the Cuban city of Santa Clara.

It will be the first direct commercial flights between the two countries after over half a century. July 20th marked the first anniversary since the United States and Cuba have re-established full diplomatic relations with the reopening of embassies in their respective capitals, after 54 years of hostility. The recovery has followed the announcement of US President Barack Obama, in December 2015, with the intention to normalize relations with Cuba.