Cubana de Aviación, Air France Strengthen Airlift Routes

Airlines Cubana de Aviación and Air France have signed in Havana a memorandum of understanding for commercial cooperation, to strengthen the existing connection routes between both nations.

The document was inked by Ana Margarita Godoy Guzmán, deputy director of Cubana de Aviación, and Zoran Jelkic, vice president of Air France, within the framework of the International Tourism Show, 2014 FITCuba, which will be taking place in Havana through Saturday 10, with France as guest country.

Jelkic stressed that the agreement speaks of the will to take the development of the airlift between Europe and Cuba to the next level, including the Caribbean region.

As for the work guidelines approved in the document, the French officer emphasized the inclusion of flights to other cities on the island nation, such as Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara and Holguin, so French tourists can visit them.

Fleur Pellerin, Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Trade and Tourism Promotion, said that the consolidation of routes between Havana and Paris, thanks to this mutual agreement and the recent launch of a direct line Cuba-Martinique by Cubana de Aviación, are positive elements to widen that sector.

The increased number of connections between both capital cities will benefit bilateral trade, as well as tighten cultural and human ties.

Godoy Guzmán said the memorandum sets the beginning of the work to be carried out by both airlines to find the best marketing options.

Furthermore, it includes the participation of Cubana de Aviación and Air France in joint projects to work with other destinations within the short and long term, such as the Caribbean islands.

The French company initiated its operations in Cuba 16 years ago, a process that began with two weekly flights to Havana, and it presently counts on 10.