Cuba received a record 3,139,764 international visitors from January to November in 2015, a 17.6% increase from the same period in 2014.
Of those, 147,401 visitors came from the United States, about 62,000 more than the previous year, thanks to President Obama’s efforts to re-engage with the island nation.
Yesterday, Air China announced that it would start China’s first route to Cuba. The first flight departed from Beijing for Havana with a stop in Montreal. Distinguished guests from the Cuban Embassy in China, Beijing Capital International Airport and Air China were among the first passengers to make the voyage.
At the launch ceremony, Cuba Mr. Alberto Blanco extended his warm and deep congratulations on the start of the Beijing–Havana service and expressed the hope that this first ever route will benefit the two peoples and contribute to the social and economic development of the two countries.
Air China Vice Chairman Ms. Wang Yinxiang said in her speech that in recent years, the economic and trade ties between China and Cuba have become increasingly closer. The Beijing–Montreal–Havana service has filled a longstanding gap in the aviation market between China and Cuba and the Caribbean, and will further promote the economic, trade, cultural and tourism development of the two regions, and offer more convenient options for travelers.
The flights CA879/CA880 are operated three times a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The outbound flight departs from Beijing at 14:00 and arrives in Montreal t at 16:20 and at Havana at 20:15. The inbound flight departs from Havana at 09:00, arrives in Montreal at 14:30 and in Beijing at 17:30 the following day. The flights are operated with Boeing 777-300ER.
