The private airline Rutaca Airlines r resumed its route between the Venezuelan city of Valencia, Carabobo state, and Havana, Cuba, with two flights per week.
Starting from July 18, the route will have two flights on Mondays and Fridays, the official Cuban News Agency reported this Saturday.
The departure from Arturo Michelena International Airport is scheduled for 7:00 a.m., arriving at José Martí in Havana at 10:30 a.m., the information specifies.
Additionally, the return will take place at noon, departing at 12:00 p.m. and landing in Valencia at 3:30 p.m.
In addition to the Boeing 737, flights will be operated with McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft, a noisy plane for medium-haul routes, the note acknowledges.
According to a post by the state-owned Havanatur, the new route "will bring both destinations closer, offering the opportunity to discover Cuba with tourist packages that will allow visits to Havana, Viñales, and Varadero for short stays.
Additionally, "other options in programs designed to spend more time on the Island" are offered.
"The inaugural flight was welcomed at the airport terminal by Yoelkis Salazar Rivery, General Director of Havanatur, along with executives from the company. As part of the first group of passengers, a significant number of travel agents and press representatives arrived to explore products and destinations that will be marketed as part of the options that #Cuba offers to Venezuelan travelers," they added.
The announcement of this new route was made at the beginning of the month, amid the regime's desperation to attract tourists to Cuba.
Round-trip flights are offered at $450 and include two suitcases of up to 23 kg each.
Tourist authorities from the state of Carabobo celebrated the news and highlighted the impact it will have on business travel, tourism, and family reunions between the two nations.
The Valencia-Havana route reinforces the trend of expansion of Venezuelan airlines in the region, aiming to capitalize on the demand for air travel between Cuba and Venezuela, countries that maintain close political and economic ties.
The reactivation adds to recent developments in the regional aviation industry, where companies like Conviasa have also expanded their routes to the island, often with a focus on the transportation of packages, passengers, and official missions.
Rutaca inaugurated a route in 2024 that connected Frank País International Airport in Holguín with Venezuela. Currently, the airline only offers flights within Venezuela and none to Cuba are indicated.
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