MSC Cruises and Air France sign a new charter contract to Cuba and Fort de France

A total of 9,928 seats will be reserved for MSC customers between December 12, 2015 and April 12, 2016.The 17 return flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Havana will be operated by Airbus A340 equipped with 275 seats, including 30 in Business class, 21 in Premium Economy and 224 in Economy.

The 17 return flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Fort de France will be operated by Boeing 777 equipped with 309 seats, including 35 in Business class, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.

For each flight departure, a dedicated check-in area will be reserved for MSC Cruise customers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and a pre-routing will be organized by Air France for cruise passengers travelling from the different regions of France and Europe.

Patrick Alexandre, EVP Commercial-Sales & Alliances at Air France-KLM declared: “I am very happy and proud to be signing this partnership agreement today between Air France and MSC France to Fort de France and Havana, two of our top destinations. It follows on from the commercial success of our cooperation to the Dominican Republic last winter, and reflects the desire of the Air France-KLM Group to operate in the cruise sector on a permanent basis“.

Erminio Eschena, CEO of MSC Cruises for France, Belgium & Luxembourg also declared: “MSC Cruises is doubly proud today to be signing this agreement with Air France for a dedicated flight from Paris to Havana which is in addition to the existing flight to the Caribbean.We are proud to be the first European cruise company to offer cruises to Cuba, with an exceptional programme which includes a two and a half day stopover in Havana.We are also proud to be confirming our place among the major players in the French tourism industry and thus strengthen our partnership with one of the leading airlines in the world.”

This new agreement reinforces the commercial partnership signed in 2012 between MSC Cruises and Air France.

The two companies have been working together over the past three years for cruises to various European countries, the French West Indies and South America. In November 2014, MSC Cruises and Air France launched a route between France and La Romana airport in the Dominican Republic.

Since 2013, Air France has carried more than 36,000 MSC Cruise passengers on departure from France.

Wednesday 16 September 2015