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Alejandra Huerta Herrera. Iberia Manager in Cubawww.iberia.com

Alejandra Huerta Herrera Iberia Manager in Cuba

Among many others, this is the airline’s main working objective, according to its top representative in Havana.

What does Iberia make of the way both the Spanish and European markets are faring as far as incoming travel and flights to Cuba are concerned? We’d like you to say how the airline closed in 2011 and what it expects from 2012. Last year, over 160,000 Iberia passengers flew between Europe and Cuba, and we’re now offering 200,000 seats for 2012, which means that Cuba is going stronger as a major route for Iberia. We just want to be not only the main bridge between Spain and Cuba, but also between Europe and the island nation. As a matter of fact, there’s an increasingly larger number of Europeans who choose Iberia when it comes to enjoying a few days in Cuba. In addition to Spain, the other European nations dispatching passengers to Cuba are –in that same order – Italy, France and Germany. There’s no doubt that the ongoing crisis hitting Europe, and Spain in particular, is exerting influence on the airline’s traffic. But we’re confident that we could get over it sooner rather than later. Even though it’s quite clear that Iberia leads the pack among European airlines flying to Cuba and Latin America, either stopping over or departing from Madrid, what are the advantages your company offers customers and what aspects under your watch have to be strengthened in terms of the competition? One of Iberia’s strengths is the variety and quality of its offer. Iberia flies to more than 40 destinations in Europe and 14 in Africa, something that allows us to provide our customers with a multitude of options to and from Cuba. What’s more, we’re constantly renovating our products. Little less than a year ago, we made upgrades in our Business Class, so now each passenger has 2.20-meter legroom in a seat that reclines into a completely flat bed. Also since last November, the in-flight catering is cooked by four of Spain’s most celebrated chefs, each of them boasting two Michelin stars. But that’s not all because in less than a year’s time our aircraft will feature major upgrades within the Tourist and the new Business cabins. At the same time, the fleet operated by Iberia ranks among the most modern in Europe, with an average age of eight years per plane. Last but not least, it’d be so great if we could extend all the advantages our customers have on our website (www.iberia.com) to Cuba. What do you think of Iberia’s participation as international carrier for the 14th Habano Festival, an event that has traditionally drawn personalities from around the world and that this year is especially dedicated to a major element of the linkage between Spain and Cuba? For us it’s very important to help in this festival because it reinforces Iberia’s longstanding commitment to Cuba. No wonder Havana was the second transatlantic destination Iberia put on its lists back in 1949. I mean, we’ve been flying nonstop to Cuba for over sixty years, and that speaks volumes of the company’s implication in the country. We know the ties between Spain and Cuba are very strong, but the bonds between Iberia and Cuba are especially close, and we’ll always do everything we can to make them even heftier. How do you rate an event like this for the promotion of destination Cuba and of such a traditional product that stands for a symbol of this island nation? I believe these are key events to make far more tourists visit Cuba and enjoy the wonders this country has to offer, including the friendly spirit of the Cuban people. Tobacco has long been a symbol of this country and any action related to it renders in a push for Cuba’s tourism.