Cuba and the United States began normalizing relations in December 2014 after 18 months of secret talks and have since restored full diplomatic ties. Until Wednesday, passenger air links between Cuba and the United States were by chartered flights. A flight board at Fort Lauderdale International Airport shows Jet Blue Flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, for Santa Clara, Cuba, the first commercial flight between the U.S. and Cuba in decades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. August 31, 2016. Obama's opening to Cuba has included a landmark visit by him to the Caribbean island in March and a series of measures to increase commercial ties, but the US president has been unable to persuade Congress to lift the longstanding embargo. A memorandum of understanding between Cuba and the United States will limit Havana flights to 20 round trips per day.

Source: bd News24 August 31, 2016 15:56 UTC