Landmark US commercial flight lands in Cuba

A US commercial flight has arrived in Cuba for the first time in over half a century, re-establishing regular air service between the two countries that had been severed at the height of the Cold War.

JetBlue Flight 187 had 150 passengers on board, including US transport secretary Anthony Foxx. It took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 9:45am EDT and landed in Santa Clara in central Cuba around an hour later. It opens a new era of US-Cuba travel, with about 300 flights a week connecting the US with an island that was cut off from most Americans by the 55-year trade embargo on Cuba and a formal ban on US tourists travelling to the country.

The last time an American airline flew scheduled service to Cuba was over 50 years ago on a propeller plane, according to JetBlue executive vice president Marty McGeorge.

US citizens are still not allowed to travel to Cuba as tourists, and visits to the island must fall into one of 12 categories, including family visits, official US government business, journalism, professional research, public performances, sports competitions, and religious activities.

To commemorate the occasion, the plane received a water cannon salute, which traditionally marks a special occasion for an aeroplane or ship.

“This is one of the most visible examples of the president’s activities to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba,” Jamie Foxx said.

“This is a positive step and a concrete contribution to the process of improving relations between the two countries,” Cuba’s vice-minister of transport Eduardo Rodriguez told journalists on Monday.

Since the US and Cuba restored diplomatic ties in December 2014, embassies have been re-opened in Washington and Havana, President Barack Obama visited the island and a US cruise ship sailed to the island nation in May.