Miami, United States.- At the request of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released a statement, announcing that U.S. air marshals will travel on certain flights to and from Cuba.
Regularly scheduled service to Cuba from the U.S. is tentatively scheduled to resume on August 31st, when JetBlue begins service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Santa Clara, Cuba.
Pending final approval from the Cuban government, other U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, are scheduled to begin their inaugural service to destinations outside the Cuban capital soon after that. The U.S. Department of Transportation has tentatively approved Havana routes for eight airlines.
“In the spirit of enhancing the security of international civil aviation, the United States and The Republic of Cuba entered into an aviation security agreement that sets forth the legal framework for the deployment of U.S. in-flight security officers — more commonly known as federal air marshals — on board certain flights to and from Cuba,” said the TSA statement.
The TSA said the agreement “will strengthen both parties’ aviation security efforts” and that it will continue to work with Cuba to expand air marshal presence on flights and to enhance security.