HAVANA – The United States and Cuba have signed an agreement to resume commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades, starting the clock on dozens of new flights operating daily by next fall.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Cuban Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez signed the deal in a ceremony at Havana’s Hotel Nacional on Tuesday morning.
The U.S. airlines can now start bidding on routes for as many as 110 U.S.-Cuba flights a day – more than five times the current number. All flights operating between the two countries today are charters.
The agreement allows 20 regular daily U.S. flights to Havana, in addition to the current 10-15 charter flights a day. The rest would be to other Cuban cities.
News Channel 8’s Jeff Patterson is in Cuba for the historic events.
See Jeff’s daily reports here:
- 8 On Your Side watches pope’s arrival in Cuba
- News Channel 8 awaits US transportation secretary in Cuba
- Jeff Patterson, Tampa Bay area delegation visit Cuba
This is not the first time Jeff has been to Cuba. Click here for amazing photos, including of old cars, from his last trip.
News Channel 8’s Gene Ramirez has also reported from Cuba. Read his coverage here.
SEE PHOTOS FROM GENE’S TRIP:
- Pope Francis Visits Cuba
- U.S. flag raised at embassy in Cuba
- WFLA anchor Gene Ramirez visits Cuba
- #GeneInCuba – WFLA Gene Ramirez reports from Cuba
READ MORE NEWS CHANNEL 8 CUBA COVERAGE: