Jazmin Li
Cuba has several airports, including international airports and smaller, domestic airports. The largest and most well-known airport in Cuba is the José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA), which is located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the centre of Havana. The airport is a hub for Cubana de Aviación and Aerogaviota and serves several million passengers each year. Other international airports in Cuba include the Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport in Varadero, the Frank Pais Airport in Holguin, and the Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the main international airport | José Martí International Airport |
| Former name | Rancho Boyeros Airport (Aeropuerto de Rancho Boyeros) |
| Location | Boyeros, 20 km (12 mi) southwest of the center of Havana, Cuba |
| Number of terminals | 3 |
| Airlines operating regular scheduled and charter flights | Cubana de Aviación, Aeroflot, Sun Country Airlines, Delta, American, JetBlue, Alaska, Air Transat, Air Canada, Condor, Wingo, WestJet, Iberia, United Airlines, InterCaribbean Airways, Copa Airlines, VivaAerobus |
| Destinations | Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Europe |
| Year Terminal 2 opened | 1988 |
| Year International Terminal 3 opened | 1998 |
| Designer of International Terminal 3 | Mario Girona |
| Number of biggest airports in Cuba | 17 |
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What You'll Learn
José Martí International Airport
Cuba has several airports catering to domestic and international flights. One of the domestic and international airports in Cuba is the José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA), formerly known as Rancho Boyeros Airport. It is located in the municipality of Boyeros, about 18 to 20 kilometres southwest of Havana's city centre. The airport is named after José Martí, a famous Cuban poet and journalist.
The airport replaced the Columbia Airfield in 1930 and was originally named Rancho Boyeros, meaning "(Bull) Drover Ranch", in reference to the plains where it was built. In colonial times, a local family had built a thatched hut and provided meals and an inn to the weary drovers bringing agricultural products to the capital. The old ranch homes were transformed into a small town that served as an industrial, livestock, agriculture, and commercial centre. Today, this town is known as the Boyeros Municipality.
The airport has a significant place in history, with several notable events occurring there. In 1961, two days before the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft from Brigade 2506 bombarded José Martí Airport and Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba. In 1977, an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-62 flight from Moscow to Havana via Frankfurt and Lisbon crashed after taking off from Lisbon, resulting in 69 deaths. On December 31, 1997, the airport witnessed the first landing of a Concorde in Cuba, with Fidel Castro receiving the Air France flight. In 2002, the airport opened its first freight terminal, the Aerovaradero Freight Terminal.
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Commercial flights to Cuba
Cuba has several international airports, including the José Martí International Airport (HAV/MUHA), which is the country's main international airport. The airport is located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the centre of Havana, and is a hub for Cubana de Aviación and Aerogaviota. It serves several million passengers each year and offers connections to the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, as well as Europe.
In 2016, commercial flights between the United States and Cuba resumed for the first time in over 50 years, with airlines such as American, Delta, JetBlue and Alaska operating flights to Havana. However, in 2019, the Trump administration imposed stricter travel regulations and curtailed U.S. commercial airline flights to Cuba, with the exception of Havana. This decision was made as part of an effort to strengthen economic consequences for the Cuban regime's ongoing repression of its people and its support for the Venezuelan government. As a result, hundreds of flights to provincial cities such as Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Camaguey and Santa Clara were cancelled.
The impact of these measures was felt by thousands of U.S. travellers, particularly Cuban-Americans planning to visit their relatives during the holiday season. In addition to the termination of air services, the U.S. Commerce Department rescinded Cuba's ability to lease aircraft from U.S. aviation companies, further hindering travel to and from the island nation.
Despite these challenges, Cuba has multiple international airports in addition to José Martí International Airport, including airports in Varadero, Holguin, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Camaguey, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, and Manzanillo de Cuba.
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Airlines that fly to Cuba
Cuba has several international airports, including Havana's José Martí International Airport (HAV/MUHA), which is the country's main international airport. José Martí International Airport is a hub for Cubana de Aviación and Aerogaviota and was formerly a Latin American hub for the Russian airline Aeroflot. The airport connects Havana with the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, as well as Europe.
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Delta
- JetBlue
- Alaska
- Sun Country Airlines
In 2015, Sun Country Airlines started operating regularly scheduled charter flights from New York to Cuba during the Cuban Thaw. Delta resumed flights to New Orleans in 2015 after a 50-year hiatus. Regularly scheduled commercial services to and from the United States began again in 2016, with airlines such as American, Delta, JetBlue, and Alaska. However, several airlines had reduced or cut flights to Cuba by late 2017 due to stricter travel regulations and weaker-than-expected demand.
Some other international airports in Cuba include:
- Varadero (VRA/MUVR) - Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport
- Holguin (HOG/MUHG) - Frank Pais Airport
- Santa Clara (SNU/MUSC) - Abel Santamaria Airport
- Cayo Coco (CCC/MUCC) - Jardines del Rey Airport
- Cayo Largo del Sur (CYO/MUCL) - Vilo Acuna Airport
- Camaguey (CMW/MUCM) - Ignacio Agramonte Airport
- Cienfuegos (CFG/MUCF) - Jaime Gonzales Airport
- Santiago de Cuba (SCU/MUCU) - Antonio Maceo Airport
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Domestic flights in Cuba
Cuba has a number of domestic flight routes, despite being a small country. Domestic flights within the country are operated by two state-owned airlines: Cubana and Aerogaviota. Cubana de Aviación is the national airline and the main airline in the country, founded in 1929, making it one of the oldest Latin American airlines.
It is possible to book domestic flights in Cuba online, with tickets available on the Cubana and Aerogaviota websites. However, US-based providers do not display Cuban flights in search results due to the embargo. As such, it is advisable to use a page for airfare comparisons, such as the idealo flight price comparison page. Tickets can also be purchased from a Cubana office, usually located in the middle of the shopping street, or from the state tour operator, Cubatur. Tickets are reportedly very cheap for Cuban citizens, with a flight from Camaguey to Havana costing 690 Pesos (3.50 Euros), but tourists may be charged significantly more, with the same flight costing 100 USD for a non-citizen.
For domestic flights in Cuba, it is recommended to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure, allowing more time if checking baggage. Check-in opens two hours before departure and closes 50 minutes before. The ticket includes 10 kg of hand luggage and 23 kg of checked baggage, although some sources state that checked baggage may need to be purchased separately. It is also highly advisable to carry all valuables in hand luggage, as items can be stolen from suitcases.
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Cuba's aviation history
Cuba has several airports, including international airports and air bases. The main international airport is José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA), formerly known as Rancho Boyeros Airport. It is located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of central Havana, and is a hub for Cubana de Aviación and Aerogaviota. The airport connects Havana with the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, as well as Europe.
During the 1920s, Cuba witnessed the establishment of several airline services connecting the country with the United States and the West Indies. On 28 October 1927, Pan American opened regular services from Key West to Havana using Fokker FVIIa landplanes. This followed earlier services by Aeromarine, which operated from 1920 to 1923, and Florida West Indies Airways (F.W.I.A.), which began operations in 1920. By the late 1920s, Cuba had firmly established its presence on the airline map.
Diplomatic relations with the United States deteriorated in 1961, impacting aviation. The United States embargo against Cuba prevented American airlines from operating regular scheduled flights to Cuba. Additionally, two days before the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft from Brigade 2506 bombed José Martí Airport and Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several airports in Cuba.
The main airport in Cuba is the José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA), located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the centre of Havana.
Other international airports in Cuba include:
- Varadero (VRA/MUVR) - Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport
- Holguin (HOG/MUHG) - Frank Pais Airport
- Santa Clara (SNU/MUSC) - Abel Santamaria Airport
- Cayo Coco (CCC/MUCC) - Jardines del Rey Airport
- Santiago de Cuba (SCU/MUCU) - Antonio Maceo Airport
Some domestic airports in Cuba include:
- Havana MULB Ciudad Libertad Airport
- Havana MUSA San Antonio de los Banos Air Base
- Havana MUMG Managua Airport
- Pinar del Rio SNJ/MUSJ San Julian Air Base
- Guantanamo NBW/MUGM Leeward Point Field
Several airlines operate in Cuba, including Cubana de Aviación, which is the largest and flies to domestic and international destinations. Other airlines include Aeroflot, Sun Country Airlines, Delta, American, JetBlue, Alaska, and more.
