The removal of visa-free travel for citizens of Cuba traveling to Nicaragua has once again brought to the forefront the high cost of air tickets on the Havana - Managua route, one of the main migratory corridors in recent years.
By the end of 2024, a ticket between Managua and Havana reached a cost of up to 7,000 dollars, driven by the high demand from Cubans who used this route to initiate their journey through Central America and reach the border of the United States.
This Wednesday, CiberCuba confirmed with a travel agent that before the announcement of the end of visa-free travel, the price of a ticket was around 1,200 dollars, a figure that is still high for most families on the island.
The Venezuelan airline Conviasa operates the Caracas–Havana–Managua route. They typically do so at low fares and without included insurance. This means that many passengers bear the full risk in the event of cancellations or immigration changes.
In light of the new measure requiring Cubans to apply for a visa to Nicaragua, which has a free application process but no defined approval timeline, concern is growing among those who had purchased tickets to travel in the coming days.
Airlines are not required to refund money if the passenger does not meet the immigration requirements set by the destination country. Hundreds of Cubans could lose a significant amount of money in the coming days.
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