County officials depart on first flight to Havana from BWI

The last time Jay Eidson went to Cuba was on business 20 years ago.

He assumes some things will be different now — namely that he might see more foreigners this time around after travel restrictions to the island were eased.

“I’m excited to see if there are any changes,” Eidson said.

He and two colleagues from a Washington-based telecommunications company checked in for the first flight to leave for Havana from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport on Wednesday.

The 4 p.m. flight also included a delegation of Anne Arundel officials led by County Executive Steve Schuh, who was fresh off a trip from France — or what he called a “pre-honeymoon.”

Flying from BWI to Cuba

The first flight from BWI to Cuba took place today and Anne Arunde County Executive Steve Schuh was amongst the passengers to take the trip. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun video)

The first flight from BWI to Cuba took place today and Anne Arunde County Executive Steve Schuh was amongst the passengers to take the trip. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun video)

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Schuh was taking the Cuba trip with his fiancee, Dania Blair, too. He also brought along his chief of staff, Diane Croghan; Chief Administrative Officer Mark Hartzell and his wife; Economic Development Corp. CEO Bob Hannon and his partner; and Alan Friedman, a member of the executive committee of the Annapolis Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau.

Owen McEvoy, a Schuh spokesman, said everyone was paying their own way for the trip.

On Thursday, the team has planned a walking tour of Old Havana and three museums. On Friday, the delegation meets U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis and gets a tour of the American embassy followed by a local arts performance and festival, according to an itinerary.