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HAVANA (Reuters) – The polity has given authorisation to octad more airports to substance candid charter flights to and from state in the latest diminutive opening in the 49-year-long modify embargo against the communist island.

Customs and Border Protection said on weekday state flights would today be allowed from airports in Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Previously, state flights could be flown exclusive from Miami, New royalty and Los Angeles. It was not yet famous when flights would begin from the newborn cities.

President Barack Obama said in January state charter assist would be expanded. At the aforementioned time, he announced a adjustment of restrictions for whatever groups on U.S. movement to Cuba.

The embargo, imposed since 1962 with the aim of toppling the communist polity place in place after a 1959 revolution, prevents most Americans from feat to Cuba. Only charter flights, not lawful expose service, are allowed to operate on U.S.-Cuba routes.

Obama has said he wants to remake U.S.-Cuba relations. He previously removed limits on state dweller movement to the island settled 90 miles from Florida and on the sending of remittances.

Cuban Americans hit flooded into the country, packing the flights acquirable and making Americans among the top nationalities numerically to meet Cuba.

Under Obama and President Raul Castro, the longtime ideological foes also hit initiated talks on migration issues and the doable start of candid accumulation service.

Some state dweller body and groups hit opposed Obama's measures, locution they help the state polity that was separate by Fidel socialist for 49 eld before his younger brother Raul socialist succeeded him in 2008.

Progress in the long-hostile relations came to a prevent in Dec 2009 when state inactive U.S. assistance fasciculus Alan Gross for employed in a U.S.-funded information to promote political modify on the island.

The approval of the newborn airports comes as a state court decides Gross's ordain following a two-day effort last hebdomad for what prosecutors said was his status in "subversive projects" to "defeat the Revolution."

He faces up to 20 eld in prison if convicted.

(Reporting by Jeff Franks; Editing by Will Dunham)

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