Cessna Conquest Makes The First Commercial Passenger Flight After Receiving CBP Approval

In a sign that relations between the U.S. and Cuba may be thawing, the first commercial passenger flight between Key West in Florida and Havana, Cuba in 50 years made the 90 mile trip Monday with nine passengers on board.

The flight was made by a chartered Cessna Conquest. It departed at 1000 EST from Key West about 90 minutes after receiving approval from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Service, according to a report from Fox News.

Key West Airport Director Peter Horton said the flight was "just a test run. Whether this is going to come and be a regular service I don't believe has been determined yet."

The passengers on board the flight included five people involved in a licensed "people-to-people" cultural exchange program organized by the Florida Keys Tropical Research Ecological Exchange Institute. The license granted by the Obama administration in 2011 allows U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba for educational programs that allow them to interact with ordinary Cubans.

The flights have been possible since that license was granted, but it took more than two years for the first flight to be made. Charter companies said that hurdles included getting the necessary approvals from both U.S. and Cuban authorities, as well as U.S. Customs capacity issues at Key West Airport. The airport can only process 10 people at a time coming from the island nation, including airplane crew.

FMI: www.cbp.gov