Holguín’s Frank País Airport resumes international operations

The resumption of international operations at Frank País Airport in Holguín province on October 30 was encouraging news after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage through eastern Cuba.

Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, explained on national television that aviation specialists had prepared the airports in the region to minimize damage to infrastructure and air navigation systems. Aircraft belonging to the air services company were moved to safe locations with ample time, preventing any damage.

He explained on the Mesa Redonda program that work is currently underway to prepare the Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago de Cuba for its reopening as soon as possible.

In addition, maritime passenger transport between the ports of Nueva Gerona, Batabanó, and Cayo Largo del Sur, which had been suspended, resumed.

After a thorough inspection of much of the road infrastructure, the gradual restoration of national bus services began, starting in Camagüey and on the route from the capital cities of Las Tunas and Holguín to the western part of the archipelago.

However, the national train service remains suspended until analysis of the damage caused by the hurricane to the lines is completed.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on October 29, as a Category 3 hurricane, at approximately 3:05 a.m., near the town of Chivirico, in the municipality of Guamá, Santiago de Cuba province. Heading northeast, the hurricane crossed over Contramaestre, where the weather station recorded a maximum gust of 187 km/h (115 mph).

In the national territory it weakened to Category 2, before going out to sea through the municipality of Banes, in Holguín.