WASHINGTON - The US moved to further hurt Cuba's vital tourism industry by tightening the ability of the country's airlines to lease aircraft.
The move could make it harder for Cuba to service its rapidly growing tourism sector, a key source of foreign revenue for the poor country. "This action by the Commerce Department sends another clear message to the Cuban regime - that they must immediately cease their destructive behavior at home and abroad," Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement.Cuba's cash-poor carriers depend on aircraft rented from leasing companies or other airlines, which are often very old.
In June of this year, US President Donald Trump announced a US ban on cruise ship stopovers by Americans on the island, forcing Havana to cut its 2019 tourism target by 15 percent to 4.3 million visitors.