The "Frank País García" International Airport in Holguín has welcomed the inaugural flight by the Spanish airline, World2Fly, establishing a new connection between the Cuban city and Prague, Czech Republic. This route, managed in partnership with Czech tour operator DER Touristik, is set to play a significant role as the high tourist season begins in eastern Cuba.
"Welcoming the inaugural flight of World2Fly, operating from Prague with tour operator Der Touristik, marking the approach of the high season. This airline will connect Holguín with the Czech Republic," announced the Holguín airport on Facebook this Saturday.
This inaugural journey not only creates a new link between Europe and Cuba but also aims to bolster Holguín's strategic importance as a key destination for international tourists visiting the island. The airline will operate Airbus A350-900 aircraft, seating 432 passengers, and Airbus A330-300, offering 255 seats in economy class and 30 in business class. The focus is on the Czech market, promoting the natural and cultural attractions of eastern Cuba to Czech travelers.
Strategic Shift in World2Fly's Flight Routes
The new Prague-Holguín route is part of World2Fly's strategic realignment for the winter season of 2024/2025. In April, the airline decided to halt its Prague to Santa Clara flights, shifting focus to Holguín, in response to rising demand for exotic and beach destinations.
This move aligns with DER Touristik's efforts to diversify its Caribbean destination offerings, expanding their flight network from the Czech capital to other Caribbean and Southeast Asian locations. Since October, DER Touristik has transported over 20,000 tourists to destinations like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, achieving a remarkable 95% seat occupancy. This reflects a growing interest in tropical locales, prompting expansion to new connection points like Holguín.
Spanish Airlines Curtail Flights to Cuba
In contrast to World2Fly's expansion, other Spanish airlines announced in August 2023 that they would be canceling or reducing flights to Cuba due to declining demand. One such airline, Iberojet, canceled its Madrid to Santiago de Cuba route starting in October, citing "operational reasons" just a year after its launch.
Industry insiders indicated that the route suspension was due to low flight occupancy and the conditions tourists encounter upon arriving in the eastern city. "It's a destination issue, concerning hotel infrastructure and the lack of activities for visitors. Iberojet aims to attract tourists beyond the 'ethnic traveler,' but Santiago isn't prepared to meet this expectation," sources emphasized.
Meanwhile, Iberia has reduced its flights to Havana to three times a week. A company spokesperson noted, "Reducing to three weekly flights was already anticipated."
By June 2023, it became evident that Spanish airlines operating to Cuba were experiencing low occupancy rates. Flights from Iberia, World2Fly, Iberojet, and Air Europa struggled to fill even half their capacity, confirming foreboding predictions for Cuban tourism, as the destination loses appeal compared to its Caribbean competitors.