Raul Castro resigns as Communist chief, ending era in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

2. Adding meeting with Justin Trudeau, in Cuba:

Miguel Díaz-Canel meets the Trudeaus at the (Aeropuerto José Martí) José Martí International Airport.







France to Renovate Havana's José Martí International Airport
A French government-controlled firm will also receive a concession to operate the airport.
BY KATHERINE LAGRAVE

August 5, 2016

After the U.S.-Cuba detente in December 2014, change to Cuban tourism came quickly: Airlines rushed for approval to fly regular routes between the two countries, and the first cruise out of the U.S. to the island nation in 50 years sailed in May. American travelers to Cuba have increased dramatically—with the Kims, Kanyes, and Karls of the world paying a visit—and Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said that as a whole, visitor numbers in the first half of 2016 were already 12 percent higher than last year's. It's a lot of renewed interest in a country whose infrastructure, including its biggest airport, may struggle to cope. This week, news broke that Cuba has outsourced renovation and operation of Havana's José Martí International Airport, which has strained under the influx of visitors.

In an announcement on Wednesday, it was revealed that Aeroports de Paris, the French government-controlled firm that runs Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and other Paris-area airports, would "receive a concession" to operate Jose Marti, while the airport would be modernized, expanded, and renovated by French firm Bouygues. Little is known about the specifics of the agreement, but it's clear that Cuba is considering its long-term growth: "The project foresees the financing and execution of immediate actions to improve the quality of services as well as medium and long-term investments corresponding to the estimated growth in passengers," said Eduardo Rodriguez, deputy minister of transportation.

The airport will not see a change in ownership. As to why the decision was made to outsource the renovation and operations, Rodriguez said it was a matter of assessing new alternatives for financing. Last year, France agreed to convert several hundred million dollars in debt toward development projects in Cuba, but it's not clear if the airport expansion is one of those projects.

U.S. commercial flights to Cuba will resume as early as August 31, yet so far, none of the approved airlines will be flying to Havana. Instead, routes will begin from Florida to Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Holguín, Santa Clara, and Varadero. Interested in going? You'll still have to fall under one of the 12 categories permitted for Americans to travel to Cuba.

More:
https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-08-05/france-to-renovate-havanas-jose-marti-international-airport