The relationship between Cuba and the United States continued its slow marchland toward normalcy Tuesday morning when the U.S. Transportation Departmentannouncedthat as many as 110 everyday commercial-grade flights will be allowed to travel between the two country . But do n’t get your Havana - bound spring fracture hopes too high yet ; the55 - yr - old embargo against Cubastill stands , so American holidaymaker would have to qualify for one of the12 categoriesof authorized change of location ( I ’d try for " ( 5 ) educational activities , " which , when loosely defined , might include drinking rummy on the beach ) .
Even so , the deal , which was signed today in Havana , represents a vast jump ahead in the thawing family relationship between the former Cold War foe . Twenty flights from the United States will be allowed into Havana each 24-hour interval , and another 10 will have access to other Cuban metropolis .
“ think that the current level [ of commercial flights ] is zero , " U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs Thomas Engle said , according the the AFP .
So far , Southwest , United , American , Delta , JetBlue , and Spirit Airlines have press out interest inbidding for the road , which should be finalized by this fall .
If that was n’t enough U.S.-Cuba news show for you , Reuters is report that an Alabama - based tractor company could soon become the first American fellowship to manufacture and sell their goods in Cuba since Fidel Castro took over the country in 1959 . The company ’s co - owners , Horace Clemmons and Cuban - carry Saul Berenthal , reportedly receive word about the decision from the U.S. Treasury Department ’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sometime last week . Clemmonstold Reutersthat the target market for their tractor — which will be named " Oggun " in honor of the atomic number 26 god in the Afro - Cuban religion Santeria — will be Cuban farmers looking to modernize their operations .
