Cuba Plans to Restore Direct Flights to UK

The restoration of direct flights from London, according to Cuba’s tourist officials, is essential to reestablishing the UK as the island’s top European market.

Mayte Suarez, the recently recruited director of the Cuba Tourist Office and UK tourism advisor, said lobbying attempts to reinstate the air linkages that Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook had previously run were underway.

The UK, which had previously ranked second on the list after Canada, the established leading market, is now Cuba’s seventh-ranked source market.

Said Suarez: “Tui is operating to Varadero from Manchester and we are seeing strong demand, but we are working hard to re-establish direct flights from London first to Havana and also to Holguin.

“The British market is increasingly willing to fly via a second country and airlines such as Air France and Air Europa are proving popular, but we are seeing stronger recovery from Germany, France, Italy and Spain and this is because they all have direct flights.”

According to Suarez, UK tourists were drawn to Cuba because of its effective response to the pandemic and reputation as a “safe and secure” vacation destination.

The only restriction on entering the island is the addition of the requirement to have travel insurance, which now includes a requirement that Covid coverage be included.

The location, according to PR and marketing professional Isabel Jimenez, used the pandemic’s forced stop to invest in its tourism product, placing a stronger emphasis on the premium market and five-star hotels.

This fall, it plans to launch a global campaign to market its distinctive experiences, with a particular emphasis on activities other than the traditional “sun and sand” ones like diving, weddings, honeymoons, eco-tourism, and accessible travel.