A 50-year ban on direct flights between Puerto Rico and Cuba ended Friday when an American Eagle airliner landed at the Caribbean island's eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.

The ATR-70 aircraft touched down at 13:25 p.m. local time (17:25 p.m. GMT) carrying business people, Cuban immigrants, religious leaders, and university students on academic exchanges, airport officials said.

The flight, chartered by tour operator Cuba Travel Services, was a result of U.S. President Barack Obama's authorization of certain kinds of tourist visits to Cuba.

Cuba and Puerto Rico cut off their air links in 1962, when the United States implemented an economic and political embargo against Cuba's Fidel Castro administration. Cuba now is governed by Castro's younger brother, Raul Castro.

Cuba and Puerto Rico, both former Spanish colonies, share many similarities in history, culture and traditions.

In January 2011, Obama approved a number of measures aimed at easing the blockade against Cuba, including provisions allowing for exchanges between cultural, religious and academic groups.

Regular commercial flights, however, are still prohibited under U.S. federal regulations, and only people with relatives in Cuba or on educational and religious purposes can obtain permits to travel to Cuba.