Wednesday, March 9, 2011

U.S. authorizes eight airports to launch flights to Cuba

U.S. authorities gave permission on Tuesday to eight airports in the United States to organize direct flights to Cuba. Airports licensed by the Department of Customs and Border Protection are Chicago O'Hare, Baltimore, Dallas / Fort Worth, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Atlanta and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

According ELMUNDO knew. is industry sources of flights to Cuba, the government still has not responded to requests from the airports of Mobile (Alabama), Houston (Texas) and Orlando (Florida). In a statement immediately, the director of the Ports Authority of Puerto Rico, Alberto Escudero, confirmed the approval and said that the Luis Munoz Marin Airport in Puerto Rico's capital, "meets all the criteria required by the authorities" of Washington to set up links with Cuba.

The official stressed that the future connection was made possible through the joint efforts of Puerto Rican Executive, Ports Authority and the Administration of Puerto Rico Federal Affairs in Washington. On Monday, the Chamber of Commerce of Tampa, a coastal town in central Florida, revealed that also received a similar permit, which represents the resumption of direct links between the two cities, interrupted in the 60's of last century.

Before Tampa, only Miami, New York and Los Angeles had direct flights to Havana. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth territory of the United States, which maintains historical ties, political, emotional and cultural well above the island south of Florida. Official figures indicate that some 80,000 Cubans living there.

It is estimated that some 400,000 Cuban-Americans travel annually to the island after President Obama fully opened flights, lifting restrictions on travel and remittances, in 2009. The eventual opening of a ferry line - with the transport of cars - from the ports of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or even Tampa, I would give to Cuban Americans the opportunity to travel with greater shipments of products for their relatives on the island.

In addition to the price of the trip would be cheaper. Between $ 200 round trip average against the $ 450 charged by travel agencies authorized to organize flights. ELMUNDO. it was recently revealed that the Government of Cuba has decided to dedicate the port of Havana to the cruise industry, while that of Matanzas, north, and Cienfuegos, south of the island is devoted to the marine trade.

No comments:

Post a Comment