Now boarding: JetBlue begins NYC-to-Cuba direct flights
JetBlue began flying passengers directly to Cuba on Friday, a report says.
The Queens-based company made its first trip straight to the island nation at noon, according to NBC New York.
The maiden voyage launched from New York’s Kennedy Airport, landing in Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport. Passengers flew aboard an Airbus 150-seat A320.
{mosads}The historic flight makes JetBlue the first major American airline to offer direct transportation to Cuba.
It follows the easing of travel restrictions by the White House earlier this year.
“This is something we’re going to talk about for years and years and years. This is an opportunity for Americans to go to Cuba,” said Carlos Infante, a Cuba native who now resides in Brooklyn.
“I can’t explain, it’s something that’s in your heart,” he added of the trip, his first visit home in 50 years.
“I don’t have words to say — this is a beautiful day.”
JetBlue is now providing weekly charter flights from JFK at noon every Friday, with a scheduled landing time at Havana of 3:30 p.m., NBC New York reported.
Return flights depart from Cuba at 4:30 p.m., reaching New York at 8:30 p.m.
JetBlue had initially announced the travel option in May.
Friday’s flight marked the first time one of its planes flew the new route with passengers aboard.
Cuba Travel Services offers the flights, while JetBlue operates the planes.
Sun Country, a smaller airline, has been providing flights between JFK and Havana for several months.
President Obama announced he was restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba late last year.
The historic thaw ends decades of tensions between the two nations originally begun during the Cold War.
Obama on Wednesday revealed both countries are opening embassies in one another’s borders.
“We don’t have to be imprisoned by the past,” he said in remarks that morning.
“When something isn’t working, we can and will change.”
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