Will flight prices to and from Cuba increase?

The Cuban government has decided to update its policy of charging for airworthiness, landing and parking fees at the country's air terminals, to all those airlines and agencies that use them. Cuban airports.

While the measure is not directly aimed at users and passengers entering or leaving the country, it is not at all unreasonable that the airlines affected by the new fares could raise ticket prices in an effort to cushion their losses.

The aforementioned provision is legally included in the Official Gazette of the Republic with the publication of the resolution 251-2019, signed by Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, and which states that the rates currently in effect no longer meet current requirements for the provision of various services.

The legal text, which will be executed and controlled by the Cuban Aviation Corporation SA, which belongs to MITRANS itself, specifies that the rates that existed until now date back to 2006 and 2008, when they were established by the president of the Cuban Civil Aeronautics Institute, so a readjustment of those rates was required.

The first point of the new ministerial resolution stipulates that "air navigation services for entry, transit, or exit shall be billed per flight for all aircraft operating in the Havana Flight Information Region or Air Traffic Control Region, as of the entry into force of this Resolution."

It then establishes the billing method for these air navigation services and benefits for aircraft entry, transit, or takeoff, in accordance with international practice, for all aircraft within the Havana Flight Information Region or Air Traffic Control.

The Official Gazette also specifies that "air navigation services provided to aircraft flying over the Havana Flight Information Region or Air Traffic Control Region are charged" based on the newly established rates, which are "based on the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight according to the Certificate of Airworthiness and with an average range of 500 kilometers within that Region," the official document stated.

The document also clarifies the rates that must be paid by "aircraft operating in the region and landing or taking off at one of the Cuban airports and traveling up to 500 kilometers," while it is made clear that those that exceed the aforementioned distance will see their rates increased by twenty percent, and if they carry out "takeoff and landing operations between Cuban airports, a twenty percent discount will be applied."

It was also specified that aircraft from countries that have signed reciprocity agreements with the Cuban State, and therefore, as equals, grant benefits to the island's aircraft, will be exempt from this expense.

It is also made clear that foreign entities will make payments according to the exchange rate for the Cuban Convertible Peso. CUC., which is in force at that time within the Republic of Cuba.

While the new provision does not directly increase ticket prices, it could have a significant impact on Cubans if airlines and travel agencies decide to "update" their fares to Cuba as well.

Established Price Tables: