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Direct flights between Russia and Cuba return in October

OnCubaNews

Direct flights between Russia and Cubainterrupted as a result of the war conflict in Ukrainewill return from next October 1, according to official sources.

The air routes will unite Moscow with the tourist poles of Varadero and Cayo Coco, according to the tour operator Pegas Touristik, aforementioned by the agency Latin Press (PL).

The program of flights with tourist packages is organized in association with the Russian airline Nordwind Airlines, and will begin with trips to Varadero, which will have four frequencies a week from October 1 on Boeing-777-300ER aircraft.

A day later, the flights to Cayo Coco will begin, which will take place three times a week, adds the source.

For his part, the Minister of Tourism of the Cuban Embassy in Moscow, Juan Carlos Escalona, ​​told PL that the island’s authorities await the resumption of trips by other Russian airlines to the Caribbean country.

“We really hope that other tour operators and airlines will follow the example of Pegas Touristik and Nordwind Airlines. Cuba is ready for the return of Russian tourists,” said the official, who added that “before the end of the year, Havana will complete the necessary procedures for the acceptance and service of Russian Mir cards.”

Russian payment cards will be available in Cuba

The diplomat reported that in mid-September a delegation headed by the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García, will travel to Russia to participate in an international forum on the sector, offer information to travel agents, and promote the island as a destination tourist.

In recent years, Russia has established itself as one of the main source markets for visitors to Cuba, even during the pandemic, but after the start of the war in Ukraine and the establishment of sanctions and restrictions on Moscow by the West, this flow of visitors suffered a severe blow. Now, the return of direct flights could, this situation could change.

Meanwhile, the Canadian airline Swoop announced this Wednesday that it will expand its operations to Cuba with new routes, frequencies and services from the beginning of next year.

Swoop will begin its new season from January 11, 2023 without stops between the city of Toronto and the resort of Varadero and in its promotions it includes the option of combining flights with all-inclusive resorts or hotels, point another office of PL.

Tia McGrath, the airline’s Sales and Distribution leader, explained that Cuba tops the list of vacation destinations for Canadians, as part of its expansion to the Caribbean, while the director of the Cuban Tourist Board, Lessner Gomez, said that this new operation will increase the number of tourists from the northern country on the island.

Canada is the largest issuer of tourists to Cuba, leadership confirmed in the first seven months of this year, ahead of other countries such as the United States and Spain.

In this period, the Island received 1,200,580 travelers, of which 834,891 were international visitors, while the goal for the year remains the figure of 2.5 million tourists. If achieved, the Cuban economy would receive 1,159 million dollars according to official calculations.

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