Now, North American flights can go to several Cuban airports, not just the capital Havana
On Wednesday (June 1, 2022), the US government lifted restrictions on flights to Cuba imposed by former President Donald Trump. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the measure is “in support of the Cuban people and US foreign policy interests”.
With the repeal, North American flights will be able to go to several Cuban airports, no longer just to the capital Havana.
In 2019 and 2020, the US Department of Transport limited charter flights to Cuba to 3,600 per year. It then banned charter flights from the US to any Cuban airport other than Havana.
When the restrictions were put in place, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that Cuba “uses tourism and travel funds to finance its abuse and interference in Venezuela”. According to him, “dictators can’t benefit from US tourism”.
The tourism sector accounts for about 10% of the Caribbean country’s GDP (gross domestic product).
The easing of US restrictions on Cuba took its first significant step last month, when the administration of President Joe Biden announced that it intends to carry out a broad review of the relationship between the countries.
The changes announced at the time included an increase in the offer of flights, ease of obtaining visas and removal of the amount limit for money transfers from the US to the Caribbean island.
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