To the US, whose ties with Cuba has warmed as of late. And in what may be a sign of renewed relations, a commercial flight from the US has landed in the South American country for the first time in 55 years.
The first commercial flight from U.S. receives water salute at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara, Aug. 31, 2016. The first regular direct commercial flight from the United States arrived in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara on Wednesday morning, marking an important new step in thawing ties between the former Cold War foes. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
A band serenaded passengers with Cuban music at the Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida as they prepared to board the first commercial flight to the island since 1961.
"This is the trip of a lifetime, being part of the first flight to Cuba is an opportunity you cannot miss," said Taimarie Locke, passenger from Portland, US.
"This is a historic moment. Flights are being reestablished. It was about time. This makes it easier for us economically speaking," said Lazaro Chavez, passenger from Cuba.
Passengers step down from the first commercial flight from U.S., at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara, Aug. 31, 2016. The first regular direct commercial flight from the United States arrived in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara on Wednesday morning, marking an important new step in thawing ties between the former Cold War foes. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
The budget airline JetBlue managed to beat the competition to provide this inaugural scheduled flight, the latest benefit of improved relations between these former Cold War foes.
"What we have achieved together took tremendous teamwork and coordination between JetBlue, and Cuban government and the U.S. government. Cuba has been our most talked about destination for some time," said Robin Hayes, CEO of Jetblue.
On landing in Cuba, JetBlue Flight 387 was greeted with the traditional water cannon salute for first flights.
It arrived not in Havana, but at the provincial airport at Santa Clara, some 300 kilometers from the capital.
First off the plane was the U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx who flew straight on to Havana on a U.S. government jet for talks with his Cuban counterpart.
Passengers from the first commercial flight from U.S., pose for pictures with national flags of Cuba and the U.S., at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara, Aug. 31, 2016. The first regular direct commercial flight from the United States arrived in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara on Wednesday morning, marking an important new step in thawing ties between the former Cold War foes. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
Several more American airlines will start commercial flights to Cuba in the coming weeks and months. For the moment though, all of them will be going to the smaller provincial airports.
These regional flights are likely to attract mainly Cuban Americans returning to visit relatives. Under the continuing U.S. trade embargo, American citizens still can't visit Cuba as tourists, but they are allowed to come on so-called people to people visits. Around 160-thousand Americans came in 2015.
Now with regular low cost commercial flights those numbers could increase dramatically.
