Lois Larson
Cuba is a beautiful Caribbean island with a unique capital, Havana, and wonderful nature. The country has a turbulent history, including the well-known revolutions of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Cuba has two airlines, the national airline Cubana, and Aerogaviota. The main airports are Havana Airport, also known as José Martí International Airport, and Varadero Airport. José Martí International Airport is the country's main international airport, located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres southwest of Havana. It serves several million passengers each year, connecting Havana with the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, and Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Airports | 17 |
| Main Airports | Havana Airport, Varadero Airport |
| International Airports | Havana (HAV/MUHA) - Jose Marti Airport, 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 Macoa Airport, Manzanillo De Cuba (MZO/MUMZ) - Sierra Maestra Airport |
| Former Airport Names | Rancho Boyeros Airport, Ciudad Libertad Airport |
| Airlines | Cubana de Aviación, Aerogaviota, Aeroflot |
| Number of Terminals | 3 |
| Use of Terminals | Terminal 1: Domestic Flights, Terminal 2: Charter Flights to the US, Terminal 3: International Flights |
| Year of Opening | 1930 |
| Year of First Control Tower | 1943 |
| Year of First International Flight | 1945 |
| Year of First Transatlantic Flight to Europe | 1946 |
| Year of Second Route to Europe | 1950 |
| Year of First Night Flight | 1951 |
| Year of First Route to Mexico City | 1953 |
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What You'll Learn
Havana's José Martí International Airport
The airport is named after Cuban patriot and poet, José Martí. It replaced the Columbia Airfield, which was Havana's first airport. The airport's original name was Rancho Boyeros, meaning "(Bull) Drover Ranch", derived from the name of the plains where it was constructed. The airport was authorised for construction in March 1929, and the old ranch homes in the area were transformed into a progressive small town with comfortable homes, an industrial technical school, and a paint factory.
Today, José Martí International Airport is a hub for Cubana de Aviación and Aerogaviota, and it previously served as a Latin American hub for Aeroflot, the Soviet (later Russian) airline. The airport offers international flights connecting Havana to the Caribbean, North, Central, and South America, Europe, and select destinations in Africa and Asia.
Travellers should note that private Cuban citizens are not permitted to own aircraft. All aircraft in Cuba are owned by state-owned airlines or the military. Additionally, it is important to be aware that booking domestic flights within Cuba can be challenging, with last-minute cancellations occurring occasionally.
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Varadero Airport
The airport is conveniently located just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Varadero. Shuttle buses are available to transport passengers from the airport to the city, and taxi services can also be found outside the terminal building. For those who prefer to explore the area at their own pace, car rental services are available at the airport. Buses are a cost-effective option, charging only 5 CUC for an entire day of service.
Travellers should be aware that long queues have been reported at Varadero Airport, and the process of passing through registration, border control, and security checks can be time-consuming. Additionally, some reports indicate issues with staff attempting to scam travellers by offering to exchange currency at unfavourable rates. As such, it is recommended to use alternative methods for currency exchange or withdrawal, such as debit or credit cards, to avoid potential inconveniences.
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Holguin's Frank Pais Airport
Holguín Frank País Airport is located in the city of Holguín, in eastern Cuba. It is a small airport, but it offers a range of services to passengers. The airport is named after Frank País, a revolutionary who played a key role in the Cuban Revolution. He was born in Holguín and the airport serves as a tribute to his legacy.
The airport is served by several airlines, offering connections to various destinations. The list of airlines serving the airport is constantly changing, and passengers can use platforms such as eSky.com to find the best deals and connecting flights. It is recommended to use the Price Alert feature to stay informed about the most affordable options.
Travellers can choose between a taxi or an airport bus to get to and from the airport. The airport's arrivals and departures can be tracked in real time using Flightradar24, which also provides up-to-date flight status and airport information. This can be especially useful for managing expectations, as some travellers have reported lengthy check-in times due to multiple flights departing simultaneously.
Overall, Holguín Frank País Airport provides a functional gateway to Cuba's eastern region. While it may not be the largest airport, it efficiently serves its purpose, allowing passengers to experience the beauty and culture of Holguín and the surrounding areas.
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Cuba's busiest airports
Cuba has two main airports: Havana Airport and Varadero Airport. Havana or La Habana in Spanish, has a population of over 2 million people. In Havana and the rest of Cuba, it seems as if time has stood still, perhaps due to the country's turbulent history. The history of Cuba, the revolutions, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro are known worldwide, as are Cuban salsa, rum and cigars.
Havana Airport has exchange offices in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, but queues are often long, so it may be more convenient to withdraw cash with a debit or credit card. Varadero Airport also has exchange offices, but again, long queues are common.
Cuba's largest airline in terms of fleet size and scheduled passenger traffic is Cubana de Aviación. It flies to four domestic and international airports and has a fleet of eight aircraft. The airline serves 31 destinations and operates from José Martí International Airport, where 21 airlines are based.
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Domestic flights in Cuba
Cuba is a small country, but its long and narrow shape means that travelling across the country can be time-consuming, especially by road. The rail network is unreliable and slow, and the train service is only available to Cuban nationals. Domestic flights within Cuba are operated by two state-owned airlines: Cubana de Aviación, the country's national airline, and Aerogaviota. Havana Airport, specifically Terminal 1, is the hub for all domestic flights.
Tickets for domestic flights can be purchased directly from the Cubana official website, which is available in Spanish and English, or from a Cubana office. Tickets are also available from a tour operator such as Cubatur or Cubajet, although the latter is around 20 USD more expensive per route and per passenger. It is advisable to book in advance, although tickets are usually available at short notice.
Check-in for domestic flights opens two hours before flight departure time and closes 50 minutes before. It is recommended that passengers arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before their scheduled flight departure, allowing more time if they have baggage to check. The ticket includes 10 kg of hand luggage and 23 kg of checked baggage, although checked baggage may not be included with the price of the ticket on domestic flights and may need to be purchased separately. On domestic flights, there is a maximum carry-on baggage allowance of 5 kg. Many flights leave Havana early in the morning and return to the capital during the day, so some flights in Havana depart very early in the morning.
Travellers should be aware that travelling by plane within Cuba is not reliable. Changes in flight times can occur at short notice, and delays of several hours are common. In some cases, there can be massive delays or even cancellations of flights.
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Frequently asked questions
José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA) is the main international airport in Cuba. It is located in the municipality of Boyeros, 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the centre of Havana.
Cuba has several other international airports, including:
- 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
Some of the domestic airports in Cuba include:
- 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 Macoa Airport
The airport is named after José Martí, a Cuban patriot and poet. The airport was previously called Rancho Boyeros Airport, as it is located in the Boyeros Municipality, which was once a small town with ranch homes.
