American Airlines plans to offer nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Havana for the first time since restrictions were loosened between Cuba and the United States, the airline announced Tuesday.

The airlines is partnering with Cuba Travel Services to begin offering 14 weekly flights to Havana’s José Martí International Airport beginning Dec. 12.

American will also offer flights to Cuba via Miami.

New Downtown BID

After around two years of discussion between area property owners and the city, a new business improvement district, the South Park II BID, has formed downtown.

The boundaries for the new BID, which will be managed by the South Park Stakeholders Group, are the 10 Freeway, Olympic Blvd., the alley between Main Street and Broadway Avenue and the alley between Grand Avenue and Olive Street, an area adjacent to the current South Park BID. The City Council approved the establishment of the new Business Improvement District last month.

South Park, home to L.A. Live, the Los Angeles Convention Center and Staples Center, is one of downtown’s fastest-growing areas. Several new projects are also planned for the area, including a new W Hotel, which will be built across from Staples Center in the former location of the Luxe Hotel.

South Park BID Executive Director Jessica Lall said the new BID is needed since the area is a “hole in the downtown city core,” surrounded by four business improvement districts.

She said local business owners also wanted to ensure “their investment reaches its fullest potential.”

The new BID plans to initially focus on planting trees and repairing sidewalks. Services for the new business improvement district are scheduled to start in January.