Air China’s New Cargo Flights Give Cuba Faster Access to Chinese Goods

Air China has started flying cargo directly from Beijing to Havana, Cuba, twice a week. The airline uses large Boeing 787-9 planes for these trips, which also carry passengers.

These flights resumed in May 2024 after stopping during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Air China’s official schedules. Each flight can carry up to 20 tons of goods.

This is important for Cuba because it faces shortages of many products and has trouble getting supplies from Western countries due to U.S. sanctions. Now, goods from China can reach Cuba in less than a day, instead of taking weeks by ship.

Cuba’s Minister of Transport said this new route will help the country get much-needed equipment and materials. The Cuban company AeroVaradero S.A. will handle the goods when they arrive and make sure they are delivered across the island.

Before the pandemic, Air China flew to Havana through Montreal, but now the flights stop in Madrid, Spain. The airline chose this route to better connect with both Spanish and Latin American markets.

Faster air delivery is especially useful for urgent or valuable shipments, like medical supplies or machinery. This new service also helps Chinese companies sell more products in Cuba and the Caribbean.

Cuban officials say this new flight shows that China trusts Cuba’s market and wants to strengthen their partnership. It also shows how countries like China can help Cuba when it faces trade barriers from the West.

In short, Air China’s new cargo flights make it much easier and faster for Cuba to get goods from China. This change helps both countries do more business and shows how global trade is shifting.