JetBlue Airlines connects New York and Havana

The first flight by the JetBlue airline company from New York to Havana took place Friday in what has been described as part of the steps adopted over the past few months towards the resumption of relations between Cuba and the United States.

With a weekly flight between the two cities, JetBlue becomes the first US airline company to open this route since the US travel restrictions to Cuba were eased earlier this year.

The New York-based air company had announced on May 5 its intentions to connect both cities through a weekly flight for which tickets can be purchased at Cuban Travel Services agency.

Since JetBlue is the largest US company operating in the Caribbean, Cuba will someday play a significant role in the company´s regional network, reads a communiqué by JetBlue.

Charter Flights to Cuba had thus far been offered by smaller companies and with a limited number of passengers authorized to travel to Cuba, given the US Cuba travel ban.

The New York-Havana route is one of the five weekly flights between the U.S. and Cuba by JetBlue, the others depart the airports of Tampa and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, in Florida.