A new agreement between the US and Cuba means that regulations will no longer prohibit air carriers from scheduling regular flights between the two countries, which is expected to lead to a significant number of new routes.

The US Treasury and Commerce Departments unveiled the new set of rules that ease travel and trade restrictions to the island, as long as US citizens certify they are travelling through on one of 12 approved categories, which include family, educational and humanitarian trips.

However, establishing air travel could take a while longer, warned John Byerly, former US deputy assistant secretary of state, who has vast experience in deregulating air services between the US and foreign markets.

Speaking at the Routes Americas Strategy Summit, John Byerly said: “It’s difficult to offer a confident assessment of what the future holds. Progress will come in steps and in an always politically challenging environment.”

“But I, for one, am an optimist that air travel can expand more quickly than some predict and that the American people will make clear their support for moving beyond a Cuba policy that has not achieved its objectives despite a half-century of trying,” he added.

The view among airline delegates at the network planning event in Denver, USA on Cuba is one of optimism with many ready to introduce flights as soon as the restrictions are lifted. According to the delegates the general belief is that initial demand will be dominated by those curious about the destination.

The current US-Cuba bilateral air services agreement was signed in 1953, just before the Cuban Revolution, and has essentially been dormant for over half a century.