MIAMI – Both passenger and cargo planes from Cuba and the United States will be allowed to fly from Miami to Havana, according to a new deal signed Tuesday by officials from both countries.
The international airlines selected March 21 will be allowed to have up to 20 daily round trip flights between the U.S. and Havana and 10 more flights to nine other airports on the island.
In total, there will be 110 daily round trip flights between the U.S. and Cuba. U.S. Air carriers have until March 2 to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the flights, officials said.
"We will conduct this proceeding in a manner designed to maximize public benefits," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
The agreement does not limit charter flights. Although the flights may start in the summer, it will only be legal only for foreigners and Americans with prior authorization to travel. The U.S. Department of the Treasury continues to enforce the embargo.
The State Department said in a December statement that the new deal will not only "enhance travelers' choices," but would also help "strengthen people-to-people links between two countries."
The U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced Dec. 17, 2014 that they were moving toward normalizing relations between the two countries after 50 years of Cold War animosity.