US, Cuba To Sign Aviation Agreement

US officials will travel to Havana on February 16 to sign an aviation agreement that will restore scheduled airline service between the United States and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years.

The signing brings into effect an arrangement agreed on December 16. US airlines still must apply for permission from regulators to fly specific routes before they sell tickets to Cuba.

While charter flights already connect the countries, the accord is expected to increase tourism and business on the communist-ruled island.

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin will participate in the signing, the Transportation Department said in a news release.