Air China has announced the opening of the first direct flight from Beijing to Cuba's capital Havana.
The flight shortens the travelling time between the two cities from 20 hours to 16.
He Zhigang is the marketing director of Air China International.
"People traveling to Cuba used to transfer in Paris or Mexico, which would take them over 20 hours in flight time. So the direct flight from Beijing to Havana is the most convenient. The opening of the direct flight will also help more people learn about the beautiful scenery of Cuba and the Caribbean Sea, and attract more Chinese tourists."
Cuba has seen a 20 percent growth in the number of its overseas visitors since Washington lifted its decades-long embargo last year.
The number of Chinese tourists in Cuba has surpassed 25 thousand this year.
