Flights from England to Cuba: return expected in the first months of reopening

Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García recently attended the London-based World Travel Market (WTM), one of the world's leading travel and tourism fairs, hoping to encourage British airlines and tourism to take advantage of the island's reopening on November 15 and reconnect as they once did.

"We have achieved some commitments and I think we will be able to count on the British market in these first months of opening," he told the Cuban press, Juan Carlos García, after his visit to the expo.

With his visit to London, García sought to update the tour operator network and add flights between the two countries, especially to tourist hubs like Varadero and Cayo Coco. The Minister added that he was aware of the importance of this market for Cuban tourism, as it is "very traditional, and we must give it the opportunity to be present at the start of the season."

A few days later, the Cuban embassy in the United Kingdom reported that García was meeting with the British Foreign Secretary for Europe and the Americas, Wendy Morton. There, he again raised the topic of reopening Cuba's borders and the potential for boosting bilateral trade.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING FROM THE UK?

From there, they report that all Cuban airports are open again for commercial and charter flights, but with reduced frequency. The government has announced that it will fully reopen to tourism starting November 15, 2021, at which time charter flights for vacations are expected to resume, including to Varadero.

They advise that interested parties should contact the airlines directly to find out when their flights to and from Cuba are scheduled. All international flights using José Martí International Airport in Havana are currently in Terminal 3. This may affect flight arrival and departure times.

Upon returning to the UK, they clarify that you are responsible for arranging your own PCR test within three days of your departure to the UK, in accordance with the UK government's testing requirements.

If you are traveling with a tour operator on a vacation package, you should speak to the representative about how to comply with this requirement. If you are traveling independently in Cuba, you can use international medical facilities that perform this test, with prices starting at $30.

The TUI UK (Germany-United Kingdom) agency, with flights from Manchester, was flying to Varadero during the less tense moments of the crisis on the island. It will likely be one of the first to return from Great Britain.

Before traveling to EnglandIf you are not fully vaccinated, you should:

Take a COVID-19 test within 3 days of your trip to England.
Book and pay for COVID-19 PCR tests on days 2 and 8, which will be performed after your arrival in England.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form within 48 hours of your arrival in England.

To travel to EnglandIf you are fully vaccinated, you should:

Request and pay for a COVID-19 test, which will be administered before the end of the 2nd in England.
Complete a Passenger Locator Form within 48 hours of your arrival in England.

For tests, you can choose between a lateral flow test or a PCR test. You'll need to enter your COVID-19 test booking reference number on your passenger locator form.

If you're visiting England for less than two days, you'll still need to book and pay for a COVID-2 test for day two of your stay.