HAVANA: An airline carrying passengers from  Florida, Miami to the central Cuban city of Santa Clara marked the resumption of American air connections to destinations beyond the island nation's capital Havana.

According to reports, the action came after the US government announced it was loosening restrictions on American nationals visiting the Caribbean nation.

This month, US airlines will resume service to Camaguey, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara, according to ECASA, Cuba's airport administration corporation.  Flights to five more destinations, including the coastal resorts of Varadero, Cayo Coco, and Cayo Largo, as well as the cities of Cienfuegos and Manzanillo, will resume in the following weeks.

For the time being, flights will leave from the US cities of Tampa and Miami, both of which are in Florida and are home to the majority of Cubans living abroad. The US government has also announced the gradual reinstatement of consular services at the American Embassy in Havana, as well as the easing of the remittance cap that Cuban Americans send to their families on the island, in recent months.

In order to comply with increased sanctions against the island, American charter and regularly scheduled aircraft were limited to Havana during the previous US government.

UK pledges more Rwanda deportation flights after legal setback

DGCA imposes Rs 10 lakh fine on Vistara airlines, used to play with passengers' lives

WTO panel agree on key issues at ministerial meet