Cayo Coco, Cuba, May 3 (Prensa Latina) The airlines Air China and Avianca will rejoin air operations to Cuba and of course increase connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean, official sources reported today.
The announcement occurred on the day dedicated to aviation within the framework of the 42nd International Tourism Fair, FITCuba 2024, which is held in the Jardines del Rey destination until May 5.
Air China will begin flying again with two weekly frequencies from May 17 and Avianca with six flights from July 2.
This is an important step to increase regional connectivity and a boost for tourism in the area.
According to the directors, 18 airlines and 54 attendees from the sector, including presidents and regional representatives, are present at this event.
Also attending are executives from companies that provide aircraft parts and pieces that are joining the airlines that operate on the island.
Air China
The airline Air China launched this Thursday the restart of direct flights from Beijing to Havana via Madrid starting on May 17, within the framework of the 42nd International Tourism Fair of Cuba (FITCuba 2024).
The representative of the airline on the Caribbean island, Zhang Xin, assured that the reestablishment of the air connection with the Antillean nation will open greater opportunities for exchange between China and Cuba.
“We hope that the launch of this flight will provide more convenient connectivity services for the people of China and Cuba,” Zhang said.
The presentation was part of the celebration of Aviation Day at FITCuba 2024, which these days and until May 5 is celebrated in the Jardines del Rey destination, in the keys in the central north of the country.
The representative of Air China in Cuba explained that the restart of direct flights to Havana will have two weekly frequencies, although the future perspective is to increase the number of operations.
“In the future, we will be more dedicated to offering better and more convenient services for the increase in flights and freight transportation services,” Zhang said.
Air China had operated flights to Cuba since 2015, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic these services had stopped.
The authorities of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) hope that the increase in direct air connections between the Caribbean island and different countries, including China, and the interest that the Cuba destination arouses, are factors that contribute to the recovery of the leisure industry in the country.
Elizabeth Vela, Cuba’s Tourism Advisor for Asia, told Xinhua that since the restart of direct flights between Beijing and Havana, they are drawing up several joint strategies with Chinese travel agencies and Cuban inbound companies to boost the nation’s tourism. Asian to the Caribbean island.
“We are preparing products that adapt to the characteristics of Chinese tourism,” commented Vela.
The official assured that Cuba is prepared to receive Chinese tourists and for them, historical and heritage, nature and specialized tourism experiences are created, options that are promoted at the main trade fairs of the sector in China.
“We aspire for Cuba to become the country of choice for Chinese visitors in the Caribbean,” said Vela and announced that the MINTUR authorities are currently drawing up joint strategies with Air China so that the price of flights is attractive for Chinese travelers. .
For her part, Joanka Acosta, commercial director of the Cuban Aviation Corporation, assured Xinhua that for her country it is “essential” to strengthen alliances between airlines and tourism.
“The restart of Air China operations is extremely important to promote the economic strategy between Cuba and China,” Acosta told Xinhua.
He also commented that 18 other airlines, aircraft parts suppliers and representatives of the aviation industry worldwide are present at FITCuba 2024.
“The return of Air China opens up many opportunities for exchange with that Asian nation,” said Acosta.
According to official statistics, at the end of 2019, China, with some 45,000 arrivals to the Cuban archipelago, ranked 13th among the countries of origin that sent the most international travelers to the Caribbean island.
In March 2023, representatives of Havanatur SA and the Chinese tour operator Tumei International Travel signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the arrival of Chinese tourists to Cuba.
Also during the last few months, groups of Chinese tour operators and travel agents visited Cuba with the purpose of getting closer and learning about the potential of the leisure industry in the Caribbean country.
Until April 26, Cuba had received one million foreign visitors and the goal for the current year is to welcome some 3.5 million tourists to the nation, according to official sources.
