JetBlue Airways to operate a second charter flight to Cuba

TIN news:     JetBlue Airways has added a second charter flight connecting the US to Cuba, doubling flights to the Caribbean island nation since travel restrictions have eased.
 
The development follows JetBlue becoming the first major carrier to announce a new flight to Cuba from New York in May this year.
 
The nonstop service will commence on 1 December with operations scheduled on every Tuesday between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Havana's Jose Marti International Airport (HAV).
"Even as the world anticipates what future air travel to Cuba will look like, we recognise that many Americans need to travel there today."
 
JetBlue airline planning senior vice-president Scott Laurence said: "Even as the world anticipates what future air travel to Cuba will look like, we recognise that many Americans need to travel there today.
 
"We want JetBlue to be the favourite airline for travel to Cuba - more frequencies with our charter partners and our unmatched onboard experience position us perfectly to be the airline of choice."
 
The new service is expected to enhance JetBlue's network in the Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
The airline has been operating in Cuba since 2011 and has plans to expand service from multiple cities in the future.
 
Last year, US President Barack Obama announced plans to restore diplomatic ties that were broken after the Cuban revolution of 1959. The US trade embargo was imposed on Cuba in 1962.
 
The US Government is planning to allow commercial flights to Cuba after lifting the restriction. A new civil aviation agreement between the countries is not in place yet.
 
Easing of travel restrictions between the two countries will allow ordinary Americans to visit Cuba under 12 broad categories without permission from the Treasury Department.