CubaPLUS Magazine

The US air company American Airlines (AA) just opened its first commercial office in Havana, only two months away from its maiden flight to Cuba.

AA reopened its regular air routes from the USA to the Cuban capital on November 28th last year. From Miami, the airlines operate more than 345 flights a day to 129 destinations in 44 countries, according to the company's website.

In June 2016, the US Transportation Department authorize six US airlines to start flying to Cuba, after more than 50 years of suspension. The first flights were to provincial cities, and on November 28th they began connecting US cities to Havana.

These flights have helped increase the number of American coming to the island, however all travelers must meet 12 categories set by Washington; they cannot travel as tourists.

The opening of the first American Airlines office in Cuba was described by its directors as a historic moment, and an evidence of its commitment to the Cuban market and the development of aeronautical services on the island.

The manager for Cuba of that U.S. company, Carlo Beltran, stated that this office is not new to them because they have been 26 years flying to this destination in the best and most difficult moments on the basis of a commitment and with the help of a countless entities related to aeronautics that gave them the abilty and privilege to serve this country.

He added that the announcement that the Memorandum of Understanding on the reestablishment of commercial flights between the two nations was achieved earlier this year was a key event to continue helping Cuba with 13 daily flights at six airports.

Beltran stated that the changes implemented since 2015 to date are very favorable and have helped the transition of Cuban aviation, as well as being the driving force of the great changes to come in the aeronautics.

On the possibility of bringing people from Argentina, American Airlines Managing Sales Director of Florida and the Caribbean Cristina Vals talked about the wide possibilities for these travelers and the contacts and training in different agencies on how to sell through the United States.