Due to increased demand that flooded into Cuba Travel Services, Inc. offices on the heels of the Obama Administration lifting travel restrictions on Cuban Americans, Cuba Travel Services, Inc. will be launching its first non-stop weekly flight from LAX to Havana starting June 30, 2009. Departing on Tuesdays at 11 a.m., Cuba Travel Services, Inc. will be utilizing aircraft operated by Continental Airlines.

Within the first 100 days in office, the Obama administration took swift action to reverse the Bush Administration’s family restrictions imposed in 2004. Under the Bush Administration, the definition of family was redefined to mother, father or siblings, and travel was allowed only once every three years.

The Obama Administration repealed the strict Bush Administration’s policy to allow Cuban Americans no limitations on the definition of family and to visit with their family annually.

In April, the Obama Administration announced a series of policy changes in regards to Cuba, one of which lifted all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.

Cuba Travel Services, Inc. is pleased to once again provide these flight services that will allow Cuban Americans to visit or be reunited with their families for the first time in almost five years.

In addition to servicing the Cuban American community on the West Coast under the Office of Foreign Assets and Control and U.S. Treasury Department guidelines, Cuba Travel Services, Inc. will be able to provide a more accessible route and cost-effective travel services to journalists, government officials and researchers who qualify under a general license, and sports teams, religious organizations, educational facilities and other organizations or individuals who qualify for and are issued a specific license to travel.

Since 2000, Cuba Travel Services, Inc. has been the first charter company to fly direct flights from Los Angeles to Havana. In 2003, the United States ranked eighth in visitors per country of origin to Cuba with 84,529 visitors, dwindling down to 37,233 in 2005 under the Bush administration’s changes to Cuban travel regulations causing a limiting of visits and a cease of direct flights from Miami, Los Angeles and New York.