U.S. government enforces flights suspension to Cuba

HAVANA, Dec 10 (ACN) Starting today, the measure decreed by the government of President Donald Trump to suspend airflights between USA and several Cuban provinces except Havana becomes effective.

The re-establishment of direct scheduled flights between the two nations after a 55-year interruption began on August 31, 2016, with the Fort Lauderdale-Santa Clara route, as part of the process of normalization of relations initiated between the two countries during the administration of Barack Obama (2009-2017), contributing to the notable increase in travel by U.S. citizens and residents to Cuba.
But 12 travel categories made it easier for more than 600,000 Americans to travel to the Caribbean island each year in 2017 and 2018, as well as some 500,000 Cuban-Americans.
When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, he changed the rapprochement policy for a return to open hostility toward Cuba, and a tightening of the blockade imposed by Washington almost 60 years ago.
As part of this aggressive position, one of his executive's priorities has been to reduce U.S. travel to Cuba, adopting a number of measures that have been heavily criticized by different American sectors.
Last October 25, the Departments of State and Transportation reported that as of December 10, U.S. airlines would only fly to Havana, and those directed to the nine international airports outside that capital are suspended.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo again used as arguments alleged violations of human rights in Cuba, and its solidarity with the constitutional government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
Many sources have denounced this and other regulations as actually having a very negative impact on the US people.
From now on, many people who want to go to the Caribbean nation will continue booking airline routes to Havana, and those who need to go directly to other provinces will surely seek the services of charter flights, which remain in effect throughout the country.
Despite restrictive regulations by Trump's government, during a November event at the Cuban Embassy to Washington D.C. on travel to the island, it was recognized that there is still much interest among Americans in visiting that destination.