US and Cuba reportedly set to reintroduce direct post service by year-end

Following on from the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between United States and Cuba in July, a US official has informed The Washington Post that a direct postal service between the two countries is set to be introduced before the end of the year. According to a report published in The Washington Post yesterday (17 September), the unnamed US official said that “significant progress” has been made since the US and Cuba reopened their embassies in each others’ countries, and delegations meet in Havana last week to map out a plan of action for the next 15 months.

The official, who The Washington Post said was “familiar with the diplomacy”, reported that the US and Cuba will begin with a “pilot” postal programme, which will use the Miami and Havana airports. Direct mail between the countries was halted in 1963, although letters and packages can be sent via intermediary countries (typically Canada or Mexico).