US lifts Cuba flight restrictions imposed under former President Donald Trump

Kathmandu: In the United States, President Joe Biden administration has revoked a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump. The revocations include ending a prohibition on US airline flights to Cuban airports other than Havana.

The flight restrictions have been lifted with immediate effect. The US Transportation Department issued the order at the request of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He said the action was in support of the Cuban people, and in the foreign policy interests of the United States.

The White House last month had signaled the planned move as part of a broader revision of policy toward Cuba. The Trump administration had issued a series of aviation restrictions in 2019 and 2020 in a bid to increase US economic pressure on the Cuban government.

They included barring US carriers from flying to eight international airports in Cuba outside of Havana including those in Camaguey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Manzanillo, Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba.

Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Cuba uses tourism and travel funds to finance its abuses and interference in Venezuela.