Washington, DC - Yesterday, the United States and Cuba reached a bilateral arrangement to establish scheduled air services between the two countries. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs Thomas Engle led the U.S. interagency delegation, and Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez led the Cuban delegation.

This arrangement will continue to allow charter operations and establish scheduled air service, which will facilitate an increase in authorized travel, enhance traveler choices, and promote people-to-people links between the two countries.

While U.S. law continues to prohibit travel to Cuba for tourist activities, a stronger civil aviation relationship will facilitate growth in authorized travel between our two countries—a critical component of the President’s policy toward Cuba.