Cuba/US: Wanderlust dims as American cuts flights, Trump looms

US airlines rejoiced earlier this year when it was announced that commercial flights would resume to Cuba after more than a half century, with one executive at a major carrier calling it almost a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Yet as service begins this week to Havana, the long-awaited travel surge to the island is already in doubt. Citing weak demand, American Airlines trimmed plans for almost a quarter of its trips to Cuba early next year. And in a potentially crippling blow, President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to rescind the relaxation of ties with the communist government, leaving future operations in limbo. Already, Trump’s comments have prompted some tourists to accelerate plans to visit Cuba before his inauguration or to delay them until he makes his policies clear. “People are afraid Trump is going to close the border again, and then it will be impossible to go there,” said Alexandre Chemla, founder of Altour, the largest independently owned US travel agency. “It’s a wait-and-see situation because of Trump and everything he said.” American’s decision isn’t related to Trump’s potential pullback from Cuba, said Matt Miller, an airline spokesman, noting that the carrier implemented its cut the weekend before the presidential election. The uncertainty represents a stark turnaround from March when US airlines sought permission to fly almost 60 daily round trips to Havana, triple the 20 daily frequencies authorized under the agreement between the US and Cuba. They also applied for 10 daily round trips to each of nine other destinations on the island.<br/>