Looks like the Italians will now be able to enjoy a direct flight from Rome to Havana. Alitalia announced the news today in a press release. Alitalia (Società Aerea Italiana) is Italy’s largest airline. According to Wikipedia, Italians form the third largest group of people visiting Cuba as tourists each year. This is also good news for Italian investors aiming to invest in the Cuban market. Cuba and Italy share a close trade ties, having signed a debt-restructuring agreement this past July.
Alitalia is to begin direct flights in November from Italy to Cuba. The first non-stop service, which will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, will take off on 29 November from Rome to Havana and be flown on the route with the airline’s flagship Boeing 777 aircraft. This is the fourth new long-haul destination started this year by Alitalia following successful launches to Santiago, Mexico City and Beijing.
Cuba has long been a popular tourist destination for Italian holiday makers and is increasingly being added to cruise ship itineraries. And with trade growing between Italy and Cuba the new route should also attract business traffic with Italian exporters and for those looking to invest in the Cuban market.
Cramer Ball, Alitalia CEO said, “Tourism and business in Cuba have great growth prospects for Italians and this new service to this wonderful island will go towards fulfilling that ambition. The Havana flights is yet further confirmation of Alitalia’s strategy to build our long-haul network of intercontinental flights to give Italians greater opportunities to travel further afield for both leisure and business.”
ALITALIA’S NEW ROME-HAVANA FLIGHT
Alitalia’s new direct flights will depart from Rome Fiumicino airport every Tuesday at 9.05 am and arrive in Havana at 3.00 pm local time, and on Saturdays at 10.35 am and arrive at 4.30 pm. The return flight from Havana on Tuesdays will take off at 5.00 pm local time and arrive in Rome at 9.00 am, and on Saturdays the flight will leave Cuba at 6.30 pm and land in Rome Fiumicino at 10.30 am. Flights will be operated on recently refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft, with 293 seats divided into three classes – business, premium economy and economy.
The aircraft has luxurious new interiors, with Poltrona Frau leather seats in business class that recline to become comfortable beds, as well as an award-winning dining service in all cabins that offers the best of Italian cuisine.
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