Isbella Diaz
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Not everyone can just hop on-board a direct flight from the U.S. to Cuba, but a few lucky passengers in Baltimore will be doing just that on Wednesday afternoon.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh will be one of thirty or so ticketed passengers flying from BWI Airport to José Martí International Airport in Cuba.
Schuh will lead a delegation of Anne Arundel County officials as part of a four day trip to the Cuban capital.
“We believe that there is an exceptional and rare opportunity for Anne Arundel County businesses, and Maryland businesses in general, to establish relationships with the emerging economy of Cuba that is now opening up for the first time in 50 or 60 years,” said Schuh.
Schuh said the delegation’s trip would be primarily regarding business linkages and tourism, but would also include discussion on partnerships in fine arts, education and recreational sports.
“We’re hoping to establish educational exchanges for students between Cuba and Anne Arundel County,” said Schuh.
“Perhaps we can find a way to organize a tournament for our Anne Arundel County All Stars in Cuba.”
Shuch said he was very excited to be visiting Cuba for the first time, as the country has always been of interest to him.
“It is the land where time has stood still,” said Schuh. “They are still driving 1950s Packards and Studebakers.”
The County Executive noted, however, that this would soon change.
“This is a unique and fleeting opportunity,” Schuh said. “Cuba as it exists today will be gone with the wind.”
The Flight: The First of It’s Kind
The direct flight from Baltimore to Cuba will be the first of a new, regular twice-weekly schedule of commercial flights to Cuba.
The delegation will leave Wednesday afternoon to Havana and return to BWI on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Wednesday’s trip will not be a special charter and tickets are available to anyone with a reason to travel to Cuba other than tourism.
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