Charter carrier Havana Air has announced it will introduce an online booking system starting Jan. 1, 2017, for direct flights between the United States and Cuba. The new system will allow travelers to book flights directly through the airline’s website, simplifying the reservation process for both individual travelers and travel agents.
The move follows recent agreements between the United States and Cuba to resume direct commercial air service between the two countries. “There isn’t a way for travelers or agents to do direct bookings for flights to Cuba,” said Mark Elias, president of Havana Air. “Through our system, users will be able to handle everything from our website, making travel planning to Cuba a much simpler process for the industry.”
Elias emphasized Havana Air’s support for expanded access for U.S. travelers and praised efforts to open opportunities for people to visit the island. He noted the airline’s experience: “Through our years of experience, Havana Air has developed the knowledge and resources required to provide the service that travelers look for when planning their journey. This expertise is critical when traveling to Cuba as it is a process that is still widely unfamiliar.”
Havana Air works closely with its sister company, Cultural Explorations, a Cuba-based tour operator, as well as with other tour providers. Founded in 2008, the carrier operates flights from Miami and Key West to several Cuban destinations, including Havana, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín and Santiago de Cuba. The airline operates more than 75 flights per month using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
