JetBlue flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara in Cuba on 31 August marked a breakthrough in the 55-year impasse between the USA and the Caribbean island. It was the first scheduled US passenger service since the revolution which swept Fidel Castro to power and caused a fearful Washington to break diplomatic and trading relations. Eight other US airlines have been given the go-ahead to operate to the capital Havana. However, while the resumption of commercial airline services has dominated the headlines, private aviation has also been quietly playing its part in opening air links between the two countries since the start of the year.