Cuban airport adds direct flight from Madrid and maintains routes to the U.S., Canada, Panama, and Portugal

Starting this June, the Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport in Santa Clara will expand its international connectivity with routes from the United States, Canada, Panama, Spain, and Portugal, as reported by the specialized portal Travel And Tour World.

However, although these flights are presented as an expansion, the truth is that most of them were already operating previously, many as traditional charters or seasonal regular routes. Nonetheless, the arrival of this tourism represents a strategic step to strengthen commercial ties in central Cuba, facilitating access to destinations such as Cayos de Santa María, one of the most important tourist hubs in the country.

Among the airlines that will continue their operations are American Airlines, with daily flights from Miami; Copa Airlines, with two weekly frequencies from Panama; and Air Transat alongside WestJet, offering services from Canada. The main news of this network is the addition of a direct flight from Madrid operated by Iberojet, whose first flight is scheduled for June 27, 2025. Additionally, the route from Lisbon will also continue, operating on Tuesdays.

United States: daily and charter flights from Miami, Tampa, and Southwest

One of the main focuses of the new network will be flights from the United States, with American Airlines operating a daily flight between Miami and Santa Clara. Additionally, charter flights will remain active throughout the week with departures and arrivals from Miami, Tampa, and Southwest, distributed as follows:

Monday and Tuesday: 2 flights to Miami

Wednesday: 2 flights to Miami

Thursday: 5 flights (3 to Miami, 1 Miami-Tampa, 1 Tampa-Miami)

Friday: 5 flights (3 to Miami, 1 Miami-Southwest, 1 Southwest-Miami)

Saturday: 5 flights (3 from Miami, 1 Miami-Tampa, 1 Tampa-Miami)

Sunday: 6 flights (4 to Miami, 1 Miami-Tampa, 1 Tampa-Miami)

Panama: connection to South America through Copa Airlines

For travelers interested in connecting to destinations in South America and the Caribbean, Copa Airlines will offer two weekly flights between Santa Clara and Panama City, on Wednesdays and Sundays. This route strengthens Panama's position as a regional hub for connections and expands travel opportunities to and from Cuba.

Canada: a wide range of options from Toronto and Montreal

The Canadian market will also play a key role in this expansion. WestJet will operate seven weekly flights to Santa Clara with the following schedule:

Wednesday: 2 flights (Montreal and Toronto)

Thursday and Friday: 1 daily flight to/from Toronto

Saturday: 2 flights (Montreal and Toronto)

Sunday: 1 flight to Toronto

This is in addition to two weekly flights from Air Transat:

Monday: from Toronto

Sunday: from Montreal

Europe: direct connection to Madrid and Lisbon

The big news this season will be the direct flight between Santa Clara and Madrid operated by Iberojet, with the inaugural flight scheduled for June 27, 2025. This weekly connection marks a milestone in the connectivity of central Cuba with Europe.

Additionally, Iberojet will maintain its regular service from Lisbon, Portugal, with scheduled flights every Tuesday in June.

This route maintenance, rather than being a real expansion, arrives at a critical moment for the Cuban tourism sector. According to official data, the island received 29.7% fewer international tourists in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, and hotel occupancy plummeted to 24.1%. Even the hotel chain Meliá has pointed out the deterioration of infrastructure, blackouts, and shortages as key factors in the loss of the destination's competitiveness.

This is compounded by the withdrawal of international airlines such as Cóndor and Edelweiss, which have terminated their flights to Cuba due to low demand and lack of profitability. These withdrawals reflect a diminishing appeal of the country for many tour operators, particularly in the European market.

Tourist criticisms have also come in quickly. A Panamanian tourist shared on social media her negative experience at José Martí International Airport in Havana, highlighting the lack of hygiene and basic services. Additionally, a Spanish tourist warned about common scams and the widespread shortages on the island.

These testimonies add to the reports of insecurity, such as that of a Colombian tourist who was a victim of theft in Havana.

Despite the serious economic and social situation, the Cuban government continues to prioritize investments in the tourism sector. In 2024, it allocated nearly 40% of its investments to activities related to tourism, while essential sectors such as health and agriculture remain neglected.

This strategy has been criticized by economists and citizens, who question the logic of investing in a declining sector while the population is facing shortages of food, medicine, and basic services.