The Trump administration announced that all U.S. flights to Cuban cities, excluding Havana, have been blocked.
According to a report from the Miami Herald, a senior official in the Trump administration confirmed on Friday that commercial flights into nine Cuban cities will be grounded, leaving Havana as the only commercial destination available to American travelers.
This decision is part of the administration’s efforts to limit money pouring into the Cuban government by restricting American tourism. Currently, three commercial airlines offer flights to Cuban cities beyond Havana, including JetBlue, American Airlines, and Delta.
“We have seen how the Cuban government has benefited from American travelers. We will not allow these funds to be siphoned to the government coffers,” the administration official said.
While commercial airlines will have to make changes, charter flights from Miami to other Cuban cities will still be allowed.
Airlines have 45 days until the ban takes place and Havana becomes the only legal destination for American flights.
Limits on flights to Cuba had been lifted when the Obama administration took its first steps to normalize relations between the two countries. The Trump administration, however, has not been pleased with Cuban support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The ban on commercial flights follows other travel bans that took place earlier this year, including a ban on private flights and cruises to Cuba that took place in June.
