Oakland airport to offer direct charter cuba flights

Just six months ago, because of travel sanctions against Cuba, a U.S. citizen could have faced up to a $55,000 fine and possibly served jail time if they traveled Cuba without going through a restrictive licensing process that allowed only specific groups of people to travel to the country. And even if they did attempt to get a license, most U.S. citizens didn't qualify for it. Now, after an easing of travel restrictions by the federal government, many people will be able to easily get a license and catch a direct flight to Cuba straight from the Oakland International Airport.

In January of this year, President Barack Obama announced that along with U.S. citizens of Cuban descent and people with family members in Cuba, other travelers could also visit the island-nation for academic, religious, humanitarian and newsgathering reasons. He also announced that a handful of U.S. airports would be allowed to operate direct flights to Cuba.Two weeks ago, the Oakland airport became the first and only airport in the Bay Area authorized to offer direct flights to Cuba. Before this, Los Angeles, Miami and New York/JFK were the only airports with Cuba flight permission.Oakland Airport is emerging as an international hub and we are very much focused on offering more flights to Latin America,said Rosemary Barnes, spokesperson for the airport.We are so thrilled that we've been given the rights to offer service to Cuba.