The maiden flight will leave Beijing on Thursday, stop in Madrid on Friday, and continue to Havana, Air China’s big bet that will boost tourism to Cuba and Spain.

In order to emphasize the importance of the new two-weekly flight, Air China and the Cuban Tourism Office in Spain told tour operators about the characteristics of the route.

Air China’s Sales Director Oscar Huo told Prensa Latina that the company bets on giving a particular boost to tourism by Chinese citizens to Cuba and Latin America, for which it already has flights to Brazil.

“We have chosen Madrid as our hub to the Americas, with which we consolidate our projection from China to Europe and offer the Caribbean’s attraction with Cuba. We hope to expand to Latin America soon,” Huo said.

Cuban Tourism Counselor in Spain and Portugal Niurka Pérez Denis told Prensa Latina that visa exemptions for Chinese citizens broadens the prospects of making Cuba a relevant destination for China.

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