US bans flights to all Cuban cities except Havana
Xinhua
1572081234000

VCG111256461219.jpg

American Airlines executive Gabriel Crespo greets travel agents on the tarmac as they arrive in Cienfuegos on American Airlines' inaugural scheduled service from Miami to Cuba in September 2016. (File photo: VCG)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of State said Friday that the United States would ban U.S. airlines from flying to all Cuban international airports except the international airport in Havana starting from December to further pressure the Cuban government.

Scheduled air service between the United States and Cuban international airports other than Havana's Jose Marti International Airport would be barred in 45 days, the State Department said in a statement.

This move aims to prevent the Cuban government from profiting from U.S. air travel, the statement added.

According to U.S. media, the United States will suspend scheduled flights from various U.S. cities to nine destinations in Cuba, including Santa Clara, Santiago, and Holguin.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the U.S. move on Twitter, saying it "strengthens U.S. citizens' travel ban; mutilates U.S. people liberties & damages people-to-people contacts."

"But they won't extract any concession from us. We shall overcome!" Rodriguez wrote.

The U.S.-Cuba relationship has deteriorated under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has rolled back the detente initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.