That same day regular direct commercial flights between the two nations will officially resume with the arrival of a JetBlue Airbus A-320 to Santa Clara International Airport, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as part of the implementation process of the Memorandum of Understanding between Cuba and the United States, signed in February, 2016.

According to Rodríguez, Foxx expressed interest in meeting with his Cuban counterpart Adel Yzquierdo and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez in Havana, where they will have the opportunity to discuss bilateral issues.

The Cuban official described the reestablishment of direct commercial flights between both countries as a positive step and contribution to the current process of rapprochement underway between the two nations, also noting that work is being carried out in collaboration with U.S. authorities to establish Cubana de Aviación flights to that country.

Meanwhile, Alfredo Cordero, president of Cuba’s Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), noted that the island is ready to assume the increase in flights to international airports across the island with the necessary operational and flight security.

He recalled that Cuba has been working with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for over 15 years.

Silver Airways flights are due to begin operating to Santa Clara on September 1; while American Airlines will fly from the 7th to the provinces of Holguín and Cienfuegos, followed by Camagüey, Villa Clara and Matanzas in subsequent days, for a total of 11 daily flights between the U.S. and Cuba.

Both representatives reiterated that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington on the Caribbean island continues to be an impediment to the normalization of relations in the field of civil aviation, as it prohibits U.S. citizens from traveling to Cuba for tourist purposes.

(Prensa Latina)

The inaugural flight, operated by U.S. airline JetBlue, between Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and Santa Clara, will depart on Wednesday, August 31. As such regular direct flights between the two countries, which were suspended in 1961, will formally resume.

“This is a positive step and contributes to the process of improving relations between Cuba and the United States,” Cuban Deputy Minister for Development at the Ministry of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, stated during a press conference.

Dávila noted that Cuba has internationally recognized strengths in terms of aviation safety and security.

He added that security guarantees not only form part of commitments to U.S. entities, but are a part of daily practice with the over 110 airlines that operate on the island and the over 600 flights that enter Cuban airspace every day.

He assured that recent concerns raised in the U.S. Congress regarding alleged Cuban airport security and aviation shortcomings lacked any foundation.

In this regard, he noted that Cuba meets all international standards and is a founding member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Despite the blockade, airport infrastructure has been created and visitors are received within a secure environment, with extensive potential for further development.

Dávila added that the facilities approved to receive direct flights from the United States, have been inspected by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, with satisfactory results.

In terms of infrastructure, he noted that an expansion and modernization program exists, which goes beyond the reestablishment of direct flights with the U.S. The program is a natural process stemming from the challenges of catering to the increase in international flights to the island in recent years, and the development of the island.

A RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT

The start of JetBlue operations to Santa Clara forms part of the implementation process of the Memorandum of Understanding between Cuba and the United States on the reestablishment of regular flights, signed in February, 2016.

The document establishes the possibility of operating up to 110 daily flights between the two countries, 20 to the Cuban capital and 10 to each of the nine international airports located across the rest of the island.

The first routes approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation were precisely those destined for points other than Havana.

As such, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, received licenses to operate flights from six U.S. cities (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis and Philadelphia) to nine destinations on the island: Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguín, Manzanillo, Matanzas, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba.

The 20 possible routes to the Cuban capital, to which 50% of international visitors arrive, are in the final approval stage.

Flights operated by American Airlines and Silver Airways are scheduled to commence in September. The remaining airlines will begin operations in the winter season, when more clarity on services to Havana is expected.

The Cuban Deputy Minister clarified that the reestablishment of regular commercial flights does not equate to an automatic increase in the number of people traveling between the U.S. and Cuba.

The travel restrictions on U.S. citizens wishing to visit the island remain in place.

However, he noted that the increase in quality standards and the possibility of lower prices are encouraging factors for prospective travelers.

Until now, a daily average of 17 charter flights from the United States arrive in Cuba.

Rodríguez Dávila noted that these flights will continue to operate and recognized the important contribution that charter companies have played as the main link between the two countries.

He also noted that airlines operating charter flights will have to adjust to the greater competition with commercial lines.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes reciprocal treatment, such that Cuban airlines may also seek to establish direct commercial flights to the U.S.

According to the Deputy Minister, Cubana de Aviación is currently in the process of seeking licenses to fly to the U.S. “A formal request has yet to be presented, but the established procedure is being followed.”

However, the current blockade laws pose serious risks to Cuban entities and their assets once located on U.S. soil.

WHAT WILL THE NEW SERVICE ENTAIL?

Alfredo Cordero Puig, president of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), recalled that the negotiation process to arrive at the Memorandum of Understanding began shortly after the announcements of December 17, 2014, and entailed several technical meetings between specialists.

In recent months, he said, Cuban authorities have exchanged with the approved airlines to explain all the necessary requirements to begin operations. “We have worked together to ensure that everything is done as quickly and smoothly as possible.”

Rosa Elena Nieves Ferrer, deputy director of the Cuban Aviation Corporation (CACSA), explained that airports are ready for the start of operations, which coincides with the peak season for international tourist arrivals.

“The business system together with the IACC has worked to create the necessary conditions,” she said after noting that Cuban enterprises such as ECASA, Cubacatering and other sector leaders, are currently recruiting further staff.

Maida Molina Martínez, an IACC official, confirmed that U.S. airlines have also brought equipment and trained Cuban personnel to meet their standards.

She noted that the conditions are being created to make use of current services infrastructure, to facilitate reservations from anywhere in the country.

The U.S. airlines will be represented on the island directly or through specialized companies dedicated to providing these services.

Regarding payments and access to tickets for Cuban citizens, she explained that this would operate in the same way as with other foreign airlines on the island.

Cuban officials emphasized that flight prices are fixed by the airlines themselves, according to market dynamics.

However, they noted that the cost of tickets in general should be lower than those of charter flights, given the greater stability in service and the improved conditions for commercial operators at airports worldwide.

(Granma)

During 2014, he told the press, “More than 400,000 passengers were transported, a figure which confirms our participation in the increase seen in tourism to the island, and demonstrates the positive state of relations between the company and Cuban authorities in the leisure industry and the aeronautical sector.”

“The Cuba destination is interesting, not only because of the attractions based on its Caribbean location, but also because of its people, culture and history, which are well known among European, Asian and African tourists,” the director stated, acknowledging that current demand cannot yet be met, despite the gradual expansion of flights.

At this time, the airline offers 15 weekly flights between Havana and Europe. Cros announced that, for summer 2016, Air France, which has been established in Cuba for 17 years, is considering the addition of three supplementary flights from Paris, while KLM, whose operations began here just four years ago, will add five weekly flights.

(Granma)