Russian jets begin flights from Havana airport

AN-148

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Cubana de Aviación, Cuba's primary airline, begins to operate flights with new Russian-Ukrainian manufactured aircrafts. 

As part of an effort to modernize its current aircraft fleet the Cuban airline is leasing six new AN-158 jets from Russia, with the possibility of later purchase. 

The planes, an improved version of the AN-148, travel up to a velocity of 850km/h and come equipped with turbofan engines, which are considered to be more economic and less polluting. 

The aircrafts are scheduled to cover national and regional routes between Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean. 

Following the announcement about this initiative, the Russian minister of transport Serguéi Áristov also communicated that Russian and Cuban authorities are looking to create a new joint airline, based in Havana. Their incentive is to facilitate airline travels between Russia and Latin American countries.