Key West Mayor Craig Cates is boarding a chartered aircraft at the Key West International Airport on December 30, 2013, that flew to Havana, Cuba. (Photo: AP)

(VOVworld) - The first commercial passenger flight from Key West international airport in Florida to Cuba in more than 50 years landed in Havana Monday. It is the result of several years of efforts to reunite the two islands, to promote culture, tourism, and to increase understanding between the US and Cuba.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave the final approval for the Cessna Conquest II aircraft Monday morning, and the nine-passenger aircraft departed 90 minutes later, Key West International Airport.

The Airport director Peter Horton said this is a historical flight but there remain many things to be done before it can be a regular service. Horton said at present both haven’t got a timetable to officially restart the air route. Earlier, it took more than 2 years for the US and Cube to complete all necessary procedure to resume the first flight.