City
Epaper

US cancels all flights to Cuba except Havana

By IANS | Updated: October 26, 2019 14:25 IST

The US State Department has said that the country would ban American airlines from flying to all Cuban cities except capital Havana starting from December.

Open in App

Scheduled air service between the US and Cuban international airports other than Havana's Jose Marti International Airport would be barred in 45 days, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

This move aims to prevent the Cuban government from profiting from US air travel, the statement added.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the move on Twitter, saying it "strengthens US citizens' travel ban; mutilates US people liberties & damages people-to-people contacts"

"But they won't extract any concession from us. We shall overcome!" Rodriguez wrote.

Friday's move comes after the US last week announced a series of fresh sanctions against Cuba in retaliation over Havana's support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The new sanctions came into effect on October 21.

Since taking office in 2017, US President Donald Trump has toughened Washington's diplomatic and economic stranglehold on Cuba by reducing diplomatic staff, imposing new trade sanctions, banning Cuban vessels and restricting American citizens' travel to the island.

These aggressive measures have had noticeable effects on Cuba's economy, particularly in areas such as tourism, which has seen a marked decline in the number of visitors.

Cuba was taken off the list in 2015 during the administration of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, who sought to reduce diplomatic tensions with Havana during his two terms in office.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: CubausHavanaBruno Rodriguez
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalOperation Sindoor: PM Narendra Modi Calls For All-Party Meeting On May 8 After India Strikes On Pakistan Terror Camps

InternationalColorado Nightclub Raid: Over 100 Illegal Immigrants Detain at Underground Nightclub in US; Video Surfaces

BusinessGlobal Tech Firms Eye India for Manufacturing Amid US-China Tensions

InternationalIllinois Plane Crash: 4 Killed After Cessna C180G Aircraft Goes Down After Hitting Power Lines in Trilla

NationalPM Narendra Modi Discusses Tech and Innovation Collaboration With Elon Musk

International Realted Stories

InternationalJapan urges India, Pakistan to exercise restraint, calls for dialogue for peace in South Asia

InternationalBangladesh closely observing situation in India, Pakistan; urges restraint

InternationalOperation Sindoor: NSA Doval engages with counterparts from US, UK, China, and Russia

InternationalAjit Doval speaks with Rubio, NSAs from several other countries after Operation Sindoor; says India's action measured, non-escalatory

InternationalEAM Jaishankar discusses "targeted response to deter cross-border terrorism" with Qatar counterpart