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U.S. Secretary of Transport to travel to Cuba for renewal of direct air links

Xinhua, August 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx will travel to Cuba this week to mark the resumption of regularly scheduled direct commercial flights between the two countries, a top Cuban official said on Monday.

Foxx will arrive on Wednesday, the same day U.S. airline JetBlue will fly from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the central Cuban city of Santa Clara, resuming regular flights after more than 50 years, Deputy Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, according to Havana-based news agency Prensa Latina, described the resumption of flights as "a positive step and a contribution to the process of improving ties between the two countries."

He added that Cuban and U.S. officials were in talks to include U.S. cities on the itinerary of Cubana de Aviacion, the national airline.

In Havana, Foxx is expected to meet with his Cuban counterpart Adel Yzquierdo and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

JetBlue will operate thrice weekly flights to Santa Clara until Oct. 29, and then a weekly flight.

On Thursday, Silver Airways will launch flights, also to Santa Clara, followed by American Airlines on Sept. 7, initially to the provinces of Holguin and Cienfuegos.

U.S. law bars its citizens from traveling freely to Cuba, though some travel is allowed, especially for cultural or religious purposes. Enditem