No Decision On Resuming Commercial Travel To Cuba

The US State Department said there is no timeline for reestablishing US commercial air travel to Cuba, following media reports that Washington was working to begin scheduled flights between the two countries as soon as December.

"We remain in contact with the Cuban government regarding the establishment of scheduled air service, which US airlines say they are eager to offer to authorised travellers," the State Department said in a statement.

"No decisions have been made yet, and we hope to continue the technical discussions in the near future," it added.

On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry officially reopened the US embassy in Havana, marking the restoration of diplomatic relations after more than five decades of hostilities.

He also announced the establishment of a US-Cuban steering committee to discuss next steps toward normalising relations, including the further easing of travel restrictions.

A bill is pending in the US Senate to remove the travel ban on Americans and a more ambitious measure to rescind the decades-old US economic blockade.