U.S. and Cuba Near Deal on Return of Commercial Flights
Photo Credit: American Air and JetBlue currently fly charter flights between the U.S. and Cuba. American Airlines
Skift Take
We'd like to see things get wrapped up with Cuba before any change in the current U.S. executive administration.
The United States and Cuba are close to an agreement on restoring regularly scheduled, commercial flights between the countries, a senior American diplomat said Tuesday, as talks on the matter were ongoing.
Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who heads the U.S. embassy in Havana, described an aviation deal as one of several in reach for the former Cold War foes in their wide-ranging discussions to improve relations. The Obama administration has been trying to wrap up an agreement on flights before the year's end.
"We have made good progress and come a long way," DeLaurentis told reporters on a conference call two days before the one-year anniversary of the announcement by Presidents Bar
