Travelers to book flights between the U.S. and Cuba on CheapAir.com

Michael Hepworth

Travel booking site CheapAir.com is making a play for the Cuba market.

The company says it has become the first online travel agency to allow U.S. travelers to book flights between the U.S. and Cuba in a single online transaction. The option began at 8 a.m. ET Thursday morning, when CheapAir enabled booking for flights between U.S. cities and Havana.

“Since the rule change, we have seen a surge in search volumes for travel to Cuba,” CheapAir.com CEO Jeff Klee says in a statement. “Arranging flights to Cuba is a little complicated, but it’s the kind of thing we’re good at and our technology platform is flexible enough to make it possible. Our team did a great job building it out in just a few weeks’ time.”

CheapAir’s move follows the move of popular search site Kayak.com, which earlier this month began showing — but not selling — flight and hotel options for Cuba.

But, as CheapAir’s Klee suggests, there are notable catches for those interested in booking travel to Cuba.