US, Cuba sign deal on commercial flights

HAVANA – The United States and Cuba have signed an agreement to resume commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades, starting the clock on dozens of new flights operating daily by next fall.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Cuban Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodrmguez signed the deal in a ceremony at Havana’s Hotel Nacional on Tuesday morning.

The U.S. airlines can now start bidding on routes for as many as 110 U.S.-Cuba flights a day – more than five times the current number. All flights operating between the two countries today are charters.

The agreement allows 20 regular daily U.S. flights to Havana, in addition to the current 10-15 charter flights a day. The rest would be to other Cuban cities.