As Lester Guisán Valdés, General Coordinator of the airport, explained to Invasor, the paving works on the runway are essential to operate larger aircraft (more than 300 passengers) than those currently received by the facility. Above all, the Russian market is interested in using this type of aircraft.

The work shows a slight delay, but in the insurance check-up meeting for the high tourist season, chaired by the highest authorities of the province, it was agreed to work intensely for the remainder of the month and fulfill the commitments. In any case, what remains to be done will not prevent the arrival of airline planes that connect Cayo Coco with the capitals of the issuing countries.

Meanwhile, at the airport, essential actions have been continued to provide a better service, including improvements in air conditioning, the assembly of elevators, the remodeling of stores and money exchange, and the renovation of the VIP lounge. Likewise, there is greater fuel storage capacity and a roofed warehouse was ready for the protection of luggage and specialized equipment.

The airport facility will maintain epidemiological surveillance at the border, for which the staff continues to prepare. This training extends to the procedures required by the airlines, attention to passengers with disabilities and the control questions provided for in the in-depth check protocols.

Guisán Valdés specified that Jardines del Rey has the capacity to operate 50 flights per week. During the low season it continued to receive around twenty weekly arrivals from Canada and operated by Off We Go, Transat, Air Canada and Sunwing airlines.

For the coming high season, an increase in flights from Russia is expected, which had returned to Cuba earlier this month, operated by the Russian airline Nordwind Airlines.
Statements by the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos Granda, confirm the aspiration to close the year with 2.5 million tourists, but, even though from January to August 2022 there was growth in the arrival of visitors compared to the same stage in 2021, the goal seems difficult to meet.

However, according to the data handled in the Avilanian high season check, a high percentage of reservations has been achieved in the 25 accommodation facilities of the Jardines del Rey keys that will open their doors from November.

(With information from the Invasor Newspaper)

A note released by the Cuban Civil Aeronautics explains that Martínez Machado, a native of Santa Clara, had License 3060, valid until October 30, 2022.

Media outlets report that the aircraft arrived in US territory yesterday morning; however, to date, the Cuban civil aviation authorities have not received official notification from the United States Agencies.

Acts of air piracy constitute crimes defined in various international conventions, ratified by Cuba and the United States. This fact represents a violation of Cuban airspace, operational safety and aeronautical regulations, in correspondence with the Annexes of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), adds the published information.

The Cuban civil aviation authorities continue to investigate the details of the incident based on the available information.

(Taken from Granma)

The president of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services (Conviasa), Ramón Celestino Velásquez, reported through his Twitter account that the company will link Havana with the state of Falcón, in the northwest of the South American country.

He indicated that these commercial flights will allow “to consolidate integration, cultural, commercial and tourist exchange between two sister peoples. Let’s keep moving forward!” he pointed out.

According to the audiovisual that accompanies the tweet, Conviasa will leave Falcón every Saturday at 11:00 a.m., local time, with scheduled arrival in the Cuban capital at 2:00 p.m.

The return will be with departure from the José Martí international airport in Havana at 10:00 local time, and arrival in Venezuela at 1:00 p.m.

(Taken from Latin Press)

This morning there was an impact on the technological systems that support the passenger check-in service, causing delays in the process by having to use alternative manual methods. Under these conditions, most of the planned flights were carried out, except for some operations that were canceled by decision of the airlines and the affected passengers have received the attention established for these cases.

At the time this note was written, the check-up system was restored, providing the service as normal. The rest of the systems have not been affected.

(With information from ECASA)

The entity detailed through a statement released by the Russian Tour Operators Agency that the program of flights with tourist packages is organized in association with the airline Nordwind Airlines.

He also added that the destination of the Cuban resort of Varadero will be the first to be available to vacationers from the Eurasian nation, with a frequency of four per week, on the Moscow-Varadero route served by Boeing-777-300ER aircraft, with estimated travel time of 13 hours.

Likewise, the flight program to Cayo Coco is scheduled to start on October 2 with a frequency of three times a week.

For his part, the Minister of Tourism of the Cuban embassy in Moscow, Juan Carlos Escalona, ​​explained that the authorities of the leisure industry of the Caribbean island await the resumption of the flight programs of other Russian airlines.

In this sense, he recalled that the Antillean Government guarantees the airlines of the Slavic country the inviolability of their aircraft.

“We really hope that other tour operators and airlines will follow the example of Pegas Touristik and Nordwind Airlines. Cuba is ready for the return of Russian tourists,” the official stressed.

Escalona added that before the end of the year, Havana will complete the necessary procedures for the acceptance and service of Russian Mir cards. “Cuban and Russian experts are in active contact on this issue,” he assured.

The diplomat reported that a delegation headed by the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García, will arrive in Moscow in mid-September to participate in the International Exhibition Forum on Leisure Tourism 2022.

He added that the event will be the appropriate setting to present the # CubaÚnica campaign, which aims to create demand and offer travel agents general information that guarantees knowledge about the tourist destinations of the largest island of the Antilles.

In addition, update the entire sales network about news, attractions, new places of interest, services and activities for the client.

The initiative also seeks to promote the tourism product of the different regions of the island and fundamentally promote Havana, the keys, eastern Cuba and legendary cities.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

7:09 p.m. Granma’s team closes this coverage and expresses our solidarity with the families of victims

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7:00 p.m. Details of survivors

1. White woman, 18 to 25 years of age, cranial trauma, fractured pelvis, tibia, and fibula, facial lesions. The patient arrived in shock, having lost blood, experiencing hemodynamic instability. Serious condition.

2. White woman, around 30 years of age with acute subdural hemorrhage, a fractured right femur and both tibias. The patient underwent surgery.

3. Emiley Sánchez de la O, appears to be the third survivor, resident of Urbano Noris, in Holguín, 39 years of age. Fractures of both tibias and fibulas, burns on 30% of the body, cranial trauma, on respirator.

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6:38 p.m. Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez explains identification process

Data on identification cards is verified and confirmation is secured that the person lives at the address listed. If this is not the case, the actual residence must be located. Cuban authorities are conducting very careful work at this stage, given the sensitive nature of the complicated task of identification for family members, the minister of Transport explained.

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6:33 p.m. Mexican government reports facts on the airplane involved in the accident

The Secretary of Communications and Transport of Mexico has announced technical data on the aircraft, as well as the names of crew members, all of Mexican nationality. The commanding pilot was identified as Captain Jorge Luis Núñez Santos; first officer: Captain Miguel Ángel Arreola Ramírez; in charge of the cabin: María Daniela Ríos; and flight attendants: Abigail Hernández García and Beatriz Limón.

Aircraft data: Registration: XA-UHZ Brand: Boeing Model: B737-201 ADV Year of fabrication: 1979 Owner: Aerolíneas Damojh, S.A. de C.V. Operator: Cubana de Aviación.

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6:27 p.m. Statement made following first government meeting to assess the event

The Party, state, and government, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and Cuban Civil Aeronautical authorities share the families pain.

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6:09 p.m. Condolences from Nicaragua

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo expressed their solidarity with the people and government of Cuba in the wake of the aviation disaster which occurred today near Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

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5:28 p.m. Mexican embassy in Cuba activates emergency protocols

The Mexican embassy in Cuba has activated its emergency protocols given the unfortunate event, with the purpose of attending families and friends of crew members and passengers, and those seeking information.

The Secretary of Foreign Relations (SRE) Twitter account indicated that the country’s Foreign Ministry had made available several emergency telephone numbers: +53 52869620, +53 56050732 y +53 52804811, as well as the e.mail: embcuba@sre.gob.mx.

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5:45 p.m. The majority of passengers were Cuban

After several imprecise reports while investigation of details related to the accident was in progress, it has been confirmed that the majority of passengers on the plane were Cuban, with the exception of five travelers from abroad and the crew.

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5:22 p.m. More details from Holguín

Granma’s correspondent in Holguín, Germán Veloz Placencia, reports that the province’s Party Secretary Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar has sent condolences to families of the victims and confirmed that a flight to Havana will depart tonight, with a representative from each family to identify bodies.

At this time, efforts are underway to locate families to determine who will travel tonight by air. A bus to Havana will also leave tomorrow morning with those who are not able to go tonight, while efforts continue to locate relatives in other provinces, principally Las Tunas and Granma.

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5:00 p.m. Frank País International Airport in Holguín establishes special command post

Frank País International Airport in Holguín has established a special command post, where present at this time are Army Corps General Ramón Espinosa Martín, deputy minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and Chief of the Eastern Strategic Region; first secretary of the Party in the province, Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar; and Julio César Estupiñán, president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power. A flight is scheduled to depart Holguin at 10pm to transport families of the victims to Havana, for the identification of bodies.

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4:52 p.m. Central Criminalistics Lab conducting investigations

According to Granma reporter Sumaily Pérez, who is at the site of the accident, said theCentral Criminalistics Lab affiliated with the Civil Aeronautics Institute is conducting investigations.

Families of passengers have made facial reconstructions about, povoded photos, and other information about the deceased to help identify bodies.

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Cuban authorities are providing these family members all accommodations necessary during their stay here.

4:27 p.m. Cuban authorities will meet family members of victims who have been able to arrive on the island, to identify relatives on the flight.

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4:15 p.m. from Calixto García Hospital

Three survivors are being treated at the hospital, according to its director Martínez Blanco, a Council of State member who told Cuban television that the facility is prepared to respond to this type of emergency. One patient is undergoing surgery at this time, and one is being examined to determine next steps.

Four survivors were transported to the hospital. The one man has died, and the three women in critical condition are being treated.

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4:10 p.m. Report from Susana Antón, at the airport

The settlement in the municipality of Boyeros closest to the accident has a population of approximately 800. No human or material damage has been reported.

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4:05 p.m. Cuban President offers condolences to families of victims

President Miguel Díaz-Canel told Cuban television:

This is an unfortunate aviation accident and we are obliged to wait, because the news is not promising.

In the name of the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba, we lament the event and join those offer condolences to the families for this tragic accident. Within a short time, the maximum transportation authorities were here. Here is the minister… authorities from the city, the airport, the Ministry of the Interior of Public Health, forensics… and all measures prepared for this type of even were adopted.

The fire was extinguished; a commission is investigating the facts. In addition to lamenting the events and expressing solidarity with the families, the events are being investigated and all the information will be made available. No workplace or dwelling was damaged. The population has behved with much discipline and is collaborating.

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3:00 p.m. The aircraft was rented by Cubana de Aviación from Global Airlines.

Passengers and crew members totaled 105, including one infant under two years of age and four children.

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2:09 p.m. Three passengers have survived the accident. They are hospitalized in critical condition.
Cuban President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez is onsite, along with Havana authorities.
Health Minister Roberto Morales, a Council of State vice president, is at José Martí International Airport.
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1:00 p.m. Granma reporter Sumaily Pérez Carrandi is on site to report details.
Local residents helped locate the remains of the aircraft. Six fire trucks and several ambulances are at the site of the accident.

Foto: Roberto Garaycoa Martínez

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The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that at 12:08pm today, a Boeing 737-200, leased by Cubana de Aviación, with a contracted foreign crew and 104 passengers aboard, traveling from Havana to Holguín on flight DMJ 0972, fell to the ground as it was taking off, in an area between José Martí International Airport and the town of Santiago de Las Vegas. Search and rescue teams are at the site.

More information will be forthcoming on the unfortunate accident

(Granma)