Air China has resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Havana, which were suspended during the pandemic. The first flight, carrying 116 passengers, arrived in Havana last Friday, according to a report by TASS, citing the Cubadebate portal.
The aircraft was welcomed at José Martà International Airport by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, along with the ministers of tourism and transportation, Juan Carlos GarcÃa Granda and Eduardo Rodriguez, respectively.
Initially, the flights, which include a technical stopover in Madrid, will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, Air China’s representative in Cuba, Zhang Xin, indicated plans to increase the frequency of flights in the future.
Air China had been operating flights to Cuba since 2015, but the service was halted during the pandemic. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in late April that the route would be reinstated starting May 17. The ministry highlighted that the resumption of this route will promote the development and enhancement of trade, cultural, and tourism cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of this flight for connecting China with other Latin American countries, particularly in the Caribbean region.
