The Obama administration has approved the first ferry service in decades between the United States and Cuba, potentially opening a new path for the hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer goods that travel between Florida and Havana each year.
Baja Ferries, which operates passenger service in Mexico, said it had received a licence from the Treasury Department on Tuesday. Robert Muse, an attorney for Baja Ferries, said he believed that several other ferry services petitions have also been approved. The Treasury Department said it could not immediately confirm that.
Muse said Baja had yet to request approval from Cuba, but said he was optimistic the service would allow a significant increase in trade and travel between the two countries.
JetBlue announces flight service
Also Monday, JetBlue Airways and its charter partner, Cuba Travel Services, became the first major airline to offer regular flight service between America and Cuba since travel restrictions were recently eased. The flights will depart Fridays from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and fly to José Martí International Airport in Havana.
JetBlue’s president and CEO Robin Hayes said the flights will offer “new direct travel options from New York, where many Cubans live today.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who recently made a trade mission to Cuba, said the announcement shows his effort to open the door to new economic opportunities “is delivering results for New York businesses.”
“By leading one of the first state trade missions to Cuba … we placed New York State businesses at the front of the line for new prospects in Cuba, that will in turn support jobs and economic activity here at home.”
The flights will start operating July 3.
Source:: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ferry-service-to-cuba-approved-by-u-s-1.3062361?cmp=rss
