AirBnB asks Obama administration for OK to expand Cuba listings to non-Americans

The online home-rental service AirBnb says it is exploring a significant expansion of its operations in Cuba just two months after it became the first major U.S. business to enter the island in decades.

Chief technology officer Nathan Blecharczyk is one of the firm's three co-founders. He told The Associated Press during his first trip to Havana Wednesday that AirBnb had requested a special U.S. government license allowing people from outside the U.S. to use the service to reserve stays at private homes inside Cuba.

AirBnB currently books lodging only for U.S. residents going to Cuba for 12 special purposes, including educational travel, religious outreach and appearing in athletic and artistic events.