French Firms To Upgrade Havana’s Jose Marti Airport

Bouygues and Aeroports de Paris have been selected to upgrade and operate Cuba’s Jose Marti Airport in Havana to cope with the expected increase in passenger numbers from the United States.

Cuba’s Transport Ministry said Bouygues was chosen because of its involvement in construction in Cuba, and Aeroports de Paris due to its experience of running major international airports.

The United States and Cuba agreed last year to restore airline services as part of a broader detente in which they also resumed diplomatic ties.

US airlines will launch scheduled commercial flights to Cuba later in the year.

Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said the number of visitors to Cuba was up 12 percent, with over 2 million tourists so far this year.

Cuba is increasingly dependent on tourism as exports drop due to falling commodities prices and Venezuela reducing shipments of cheap oil.