Story ID: 
NBAA: Cuba Travel Continues To Get Easier
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: U.S. government is now permitting export of aircraft parts, and aircraft are now permitted for seven-day stay.
Word Count: 247
Restrictions on Cuba operations continue to ease with authorized aircraft operators now permitted to keep their aircraft in the island nation for up to seven days, NBAA confirmed. The previous limit was a single overnight stay.

Further, the U.S. Treasury Department has revised export restrictions to permit items that “help ensure the safety of civil aviation and the safe operation of commercial passenger aircraft.” NBAA said this will include aircraft parts and components, software and technology related to safety of flight, air traffic control, aviation communications and aviation weather-related equipment, airport safety equipment and devices used for security screening of passengers and baggage. This change was considered critical because access to parts in an AOG situation has been one of the top concerns. Industry groups had been working with the U.S. government to remedy the situation.

The moves are the latest in a series of changes in travel restrictions that have occurred over the last year as the U.S. strengthens ties with Cuba. Earlier this year, the government eliminated a requirement for passengers to obtain a license through the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control before travelling to Cuba. The White House in July also removed Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which effectively eliminated a requirement for operators to obtain a temporary sojourn license from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security before flying to Cuba.