First Direct Flight From New Orleans To Cuba Since 1958 To Take Off This Weekend

First Direct Flight From New Orleans To Cuba Since 1958 To Take Off This
Weekend
The Huffington Post | By Roque Planas
Posted: 03/13/2015 6:33 pm EDT Updated: 03/13/2015 6:59 pm EDT

A group of 80 business and civic leaders will take the first direct
flight from New Orleans, La., to Cuba since 1958 on Saturday, according
to an article published on Cuban state media.

Saturday's flight comes after U.S. and Cuban officials agreed in
December to take steps to normalize diplomatic relations for the first
time since 1961.

The group traveling to Cuba will participate in the "Cuba Hoy," or "Cuba
Today," Conference from March 14 to 21, organized by the New
Orleans-based International Cuba Society and At The Threshold, according
to the New Orleans Biz Journal. The agenda includes seminar on topics
including foreign investment, energy development and historic
preservation led by both U.S. and Cuban experts.

"Re-establishing Louisiana's historically strong ties with Cuba could
have a huge economic impact on Louisiana, particularly New Orleans," Joe
Doss, the president of At The Threshold, told the Times-Picayune in
January, when the conference was first announced. "This trip will help
position Louisiana as a leader in the engagement process and set the
stage for a mutually beneficial relationship."

The Dec. 17 announcement that the U.S. and Cuba would mend diplomatic
ties generated increased interest in investing in the island. The U.S.
announcement included the easing of restrictions on some sales of
agricultural and other products to Cuba, as well as permitting Americans
to bring up to $400 of Cuban goods when returning from the island.

The December changes also eased restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba,
though travel for tourism remains prohibited.

But despite the unprecedented forward movement on U.S.-diplomacy since
December, the U.S. trade embargo remains in place and cannot be removed
without an act of Congress.

Nevertheless, a series of concrete changes in recent months show that
the two countries are slowly becoming more friendly toward one another.
The two countries have held two rounds of high-level diplomatic talks
aimed at reestablishing formal embassies, removing Cuba from the U.S.
"State Sponsors of Terrorism" list and dealing with ongoing bilateral
issues like immigration. A third round of talks are scheduled to take
place on Monday in Havana.

This week, the Cuban telephone company, Etesca, announced the
reestablishment of direct phone links to the United States for the first
time in 15 years. Prior to the change, calls between Cuba and the United
States had to be routed through a third country, driving up the cost.

The tour operator Cuba Travel Services will also begin offering weekly
direct charter flights from New York to the island, Bloomberg News
reported Friday.

Source: First Direct Flight From New Orleans To Cuba Since 1958 To Take
Off This Weekend -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/13/new-orleans-cuba-flight_n_6867212.html