OFAC Cuba Sanctions FAQ: Part III – Travel Services

28. Do air carriers need to obtain specific licenses from OFAC to provide services?

No. A new general license authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide air carrierservices to, from, or within Cuba, in connection with authorized travel, without the need for aspecific license from OFAC. However, while no additional license is required from OFAC, aircarriers wishing to provide service will still need to secure regulatory approvals from otherconcerned U.S. Government agencies, including the Department of Transportation (Office of theSecretary and the Federal Aviation Administration) and the Department of Homeland Security.For a complete description of what the OFAC general license authorizes and the restrictions thatapply, please see 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(2).

29. Do travel service providers (such as travel agents and tour group operators) need to obtainspecific licenses from OFAC to provide services for travel to Cuba?

No. A new general license authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including travel agentsand tour group operators, to provide travel services in connection with authorized travel withoutthe need for specific licenses from OFAC. For a complete description of what this generallicense authorizes and the restrictions that apply, please see 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(1). Theprovision of services related to travel for tourist or other unauthorized travel to Cuba remainsprohibited.

20. Are airlines and travel service providers required to verify that an individual traveler isauthorized to travel to Cuba?

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction providing authorized carrier or travel services must retain forat least five years from the date of the transaction a certification from each customer indicatingthe provision of the CACR that authorizes the person to travel to Cuba. In the case of a customertraveling under a specific license, a copy of the license must be maintained on file. The namesand addresses of individual travelers must also be maintained on file for at least five years. See31 CFR § 515.572(b).

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