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First legal commercial Key West–Cuba flight in 50 years lands in Havana
Mayor Craig Cates flew to Cuba with the group, but returned without venturing beyond Havana airport [AP]The first commercial passenger flight from Key West to Cuba in more than 50 years has landed in Havana, capping several years of efforts to reunite the two islands, though regular air service still appeared a distant prospect.
US Customs and Border Protection gave the final approval for the flight on Monday morning, and the nine-passenger aircraft departed 90 minutes later at 10am, Key West International Airport director Peter Horton said.
"This is just a test run," Horton said. "Whether this is going to come and be a regular service I don\’t believe has been determined yet."
Federal officials granted the Florida island the green light to resume flights to and from Cuba in October 2011. It took more than two years, however, for the first flight to take off.
Charter operators said they had trouble getting all of the required approvals from US and Cuban authorities. They have also struggled with capacity issues: Key West is currently only approved to process 10 passengers and crew from Cuba at a time.
Cuba and Key West have a long and interwoven history. Before the 1959 revolution, there was regular flight and ferry service to the island.
Residents could fly to Havana for lunch and be back in Key West in time for dinner.
The Cessna Conquest II aircraft departed Key West on Monday carrying nine passengers, five of which planned to participate in a licensed "people-to-people" trip focusing on Cuba\’s culture and environment organised by the Florida Keys Tropical Research Ecological Exchange Institute.
The US administration reinstituted the cultural exchange licenses in 2011, allowing organisations to take US citizens to the island for educational activities that promote understanding and exchange with ordinary Cubans.
The Key West travellers are scheduled to meet with Cubans at botanical gardens, organic farms and cultural centres.
Key West Mayor Craig Cates flew to Cuba with the group, but returned Monday without venturing beyond the Havana airport terminal.
"We\’re 90 miles away from Cuba," Cates said. "We\’re closer to Cuba than Miami. We haven\’t had flights over there in 50 years. It\’s going to be great for the city of Key West – cultural exchange, historic exchange, to be able to go back and forth directly from Key West.
Source: AP
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