WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden’s administration this week on Wednesday revoked a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba imposed by his predecessor, including ending a prohibition on US airline flights to Cuban airports other than Havana.
The US Transportation Department (USDOT) issued the order at the request of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said the action was “in support of the Cuban people, and in the foreign policy interests of the United States.”
The White House last month had signalled the planned move as part of a broader revision of policy toward Cuba. The flight restrictions have been lifted effective immediately.
With US airlines facing full flights and some facing employee shortages, it is not clear how many new flights to Cuba might be added.
As a result of the order, USDOT was dismissed as moot pending applications for emergency exemptions and for the allocation of Havana public charter flights.
