JetBlue Airways has signed an agreement with its partner, ABC Charters, to add a new charter flight to Cuba beginning this summer. The weekly flight, which begins on June 5th, will operate on Fridays from Tampa to Havana. The addition marks one of the first expansions in charter service by a major US airline since restrictions on travel to Cuba were eased in January.

Cuba is expected to receive a boom in visitors from the United States after the Obama administration took a series of steps to normalise relations between the two countries. At present, travel between the two destinations is heavily restricted, with direct commercial flights banned, special visas compulsory and visitors required to join strictly controlled groups.

Cuba has added nine further cities in the United States to a list of permitted departure points for travel to the Caribbean island. Cuban travel agency Havanatur Celimar added Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico, to the list from where charter flights would be accepted.

Cuba’s Fidel Castro has issued a statement about the Japanese earthquake.

Insurewithease.com warns that holidays could be stopped before they even start if tourists forget their travel insurance documents when heading to Cuba

As far as opening up Cuba for travel is concerned, the US Treasury is distinctly off-key with the notes being sounded by the White House and Congress.