Sky marshals to board Cuba-U.S. charter flights

The Cuban Institute of Civil Aeronautics (IACC) and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have agreed to deploy sky marshals on certain charter flights between the two countries to ensure security, the Cuban Foreign Ministry announced Friday.

Josefina Vidal, director of U.S. affairs at the ministry, issued a statement, saying this move responded to the spirit of Cuba-America cooperation.

The announcement comes just days after Havana rejected doubts from the U.S. Congress over security weaknesses at Cuban airports and on planes.

According to Cuban authorities, U.S. criticisms seek to sow fear and deter Americans from visiting Cuba, although TSA executives have stated that their relationship with the IACC remains strong and professional.

Washington and Havana agreed in February to restore direct commercial flights. Limited charter flights resumed in the 1990s after years of suspension, with hundreds now traveling a month.

IACC figures show that 4,783 charter flights linked the two countries in 2015 while 3,452 took off in the first half of 2016, without a single security staff on board.

Furthermore, the IACC has insisted that despite the material limitations it faces due to the ongoing economic embargo, Cuba's airports have all the equipment necessary to comply with global security norms. Endi