How Can Americans Visit Cuba In 2017: American Airlines Opens Country’s First Office In Havana

Despite uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s policy toward Cuba, airlines seem positive about their avenues in the Caribbean island nation and American Airlines formally opened its first office in Havana Wednesday.

“We cannot speculate about what (Trump's) next step will be, but I can assure you that we are moving our machine forward,” said Galo Beltran, the Cuba manager for American Airlines, according to the Associated Press. “You are a witness to the investment and how important Cuba is to American as a U.S. entity doing business,” he said.

The inauguration, which comes months after the airline’s first scheduled commercial flight from the U.S. to Havana in over 50 years, showcases American Airlines’ commitment to expanding business in the neighboring country, said the AP report.

Christine Valls of American Airlines told Local 10 News: “We have about 15 percent or 20 percent of our customers originating in Cuba so we will be able to facilitate the ticketing,”

Former President Barack Obama took major steps in improving relations with Cuba but his détente has been routinely criticized by Trump, who has indicated at undoing the progress made in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

However, a number of airlines received authorization from the Obama administration last year to fly to Cuba. American Airlines started flying from Miami to five Cuban cities in late summer while Miami-Havana and Charlotte-Havana services were added later in Nov.

The newly opened office is of great importance as Cuba suffers from limited internet access and credit card use, making it difficult for many people to make bookings online. The new ticket office will be open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, as well as from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Other airlines that are flying to Cuba include Alaska Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, and United Airlines.