Take this plane to Cuba, say Chinese and German airlines

Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-06-16

Boeing delivers an 747-8 aircraft to Air China in Seattle, Sept. 30,
2014. (File photo/Xinhua)

Chinese and German airlines are strengthening their air connections with Cuba, Cuban state daily Granma reported Monday.

Air China is poised to launch a Beijing-Havana route starting in September, while Condor of Germany will increase the frequency of its flights in October and add a new route, the daily said, citing the island's Ministry of Tourism.

Air China will operate three weekly flights with a stopover in Montreal, marking the first flights between the Asian giant and the Caribbean island, according to the daily. The new flight has the potential to turn Havana into a hub for Chinese visitors traveling to other parts of Latin America, Granma added.

More than 28,000 Chinese travelers visited Cuba last year, a more than 27% increase over 2013, according to Cuba's official statistics institute (ONEI).

In time for the winter high tourism season, Condor will launch a new weekly route between Munich and Holguin, increase the ferquency of its Frankfurt-to-Havana to four a week and add a second weekly flight between Munich and the Cuban beach resort of Varadero.

Condor's goal is to maintain its dominance as the leading German carrier to Cuba.

In 2014, Germany maintained its ranking as Cuba's second-largest market of foreign tourists, after Canada, with more than 136,000 visitors, an increase of 20% over the previous year, the ministry said. Some 150,000 German tourists are expected in 2015.

Tourism is Cuba's second largest source of foreign revenue, generating US$2.6 billion a year, and drawing some 3 million visitors for the first time in 2014. That figure is expected to double in a few years as improving US-Cuba ties allow more Americans to freely travel to the country.