New Flights from US, Canada, Europe Start at Cuban Airport

Key Takeaways

• Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Airport expands international flights starting June 2025, boosting connectivity with U.S., Canada, Panama, Spain, and Portugal.
• New e-visa system replaces paper Tourist Cards from July 1, 2025; travelers must apply online except direct Canadian flights.
• U.S. travelers must follow 12 travel categories and avoid restricted Cuban businesses; new routes aim to revive Cuba’s tourism.

Starting in June 2025, Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport in Santa Clara, Cuba, will see a major increase in international flights. This change is set to make travel between Cuba and countries like the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Panama, Spain 🇪🇸, and Portugal 🇵🇹 much easier. The move is part of a larger plan to boost tourism and business in central Cuba, and it comes at a time when the country is working hard to recover from recent challenges in its tourism sector.

Let’s take a closer look at what these new flights mean, who will benefit, and what travelers need to know about the new rules and requirements.

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How

Who: Travelers from the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Panama, Spain 🇪🇸, and Portugal 🇵🇹, as well as airlines and tourism businesses in these countries and Cuba.

What: New direct and regular international flights will begin operating to and from Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport in Santa Clara, Cuba.

When: The expanded flight schedule starts in June 2025, with the first Madrid-Santa Clara flight set for June 27, 2025.

Where: The focus is on Santa Clara, Cuba, a city in the center of the island, with its main airport, Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport, serving as the new hub.

Why: The goal is to improve international connectivity, attract more tourists, and help Cuba’s economy recover after a tough period for its tourism industry.

How: By adding new routes and airlines, updating visa rules, and working to improve the overall travel experience for visitors.

Expanded International Connectivity: What’s New?

Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport is about to become much busier. Starting in June 2025, several well-known airlines will begin or expand their services to Santa Clara. This means more options for travelers and better links between Cuba and the rest of the world.

Key Airlines and Routes:

• American Airlines: Direct flights from the United States 🇺🇸 to Santa Clara.
• Copa Airlines: Flights from Panama, connecting Cuba with Central and South America.
• Air Transat: Weekly flights from Canada 🇨🇦 between February 14, 2025, and May 9, 2025.
• Iberojet: New direct flights from Spain 🇪🇸, with the first Madrid-Santa Clara flight on June 27, 2025.
• Sunwing: Weekly flights from Canada 🇨🇦 between January 9, 2025, and May 8, 2025.

These new and returning routes will make it much easier for people from North America and Europe to visit central Cuba. The airport’s location is especially good for travelers heading to the Santa María Cays and nearby resorts, which are popular with tourists.

Why Is This Important?

• More choices: Travelers will have more flight options and can pick the best times and prices.
• Better access: Central Cuba will be easier to reach, not just for tourists but also for people visiting family or doing business.
• Boost for tourism: More flights mean more visitors, which helps local hotels, restaurants, and businesses.

The Economic and Tourism Impact

The expansion at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport is expected to bring a big boost to Cuba’s tourism industry, especially in the central part of the island. This is important because tourism is a key part of Cuba’s economy, providing jobs and income for many people.

Why Santa Clara?

Santa Clara is close to some of Cuba’s most beautiful beaches and resorts, especially the Santa María Cays. These areas are known for their clear water, white sand, and all-inclusive hotels. By making it easier to get to Santa Clara, Cuba hopes to attract more tourists who might have gone to other Caribbean destinations in the past.

Expected Benefits:

• More visitors: The new flights are timed to start just before the busy summer travel season, when many people take vacations.
• Stronger local economy: More tourists mean more money spent in hotels, restaurants, shops, and on tours.
• Job creation: As tourism grows, more jobs will be available in hotels, transportation, and other services.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the move to expand international connectivity at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport is seen as a smart way to help Cuba’s tourism sector recover from recent setbacks.

Challenges Facing Cuban Tourism

While the new flights are good news, Cuba’s tourism industry has faced some tough problems in recent years. Understanding these challenges helps explain why the new routes are so important.

Key Issues:

• Falling visitor numbers: Fewer tourists have been coming to Cuba, especially from Europe and Canada.
• Airline cutbacks: Some European airlines have reduced or stopped their flights to Cuba.
• Quality concerns: In November 2024, Sunwing (a Canadian airline) removed 26 Cuban hotels from its offerings because of quality problems and also cut back on flights due to lower demand.
• Safety worries: Since early 2024, there has been a drop in how safe travelers feel about visiting Cuba.
• US travel restrictions: The United States 🇺🇸 has rules that make it harder for people who have visited Cuba to later travel to the United States 🇺🇸 under the ESTA visa waiver program. This has discouraged some travelers from visiting Cuba at all.

Cuba’s Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García, has said that it is “essential for the recovery of the sector” that tourism grows in 2025. The new flights are a big part of that plan.

New E-Visa System: What Travelers Need to Know

One of the biggest changes for people traveling to Cuba in 2025 is the introduction of a new e-visa system. This is a digital visa that replaces the old paper Tourist Card, making the process more modern and, in many cases, easier.

Key Points About the E-Visa:

• Start date: The new e-visa system begins on July 1, 2025.
• Who needs it: All travelers to Cuba will need to use the new e-visa. The old paper Tourist Card will no longer be accepted.
• How to get it: Travelers can fill out the application form online within seven days of their departure. The form is available on the official Cuban government website (see Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more details).
• Special rule for Canada: If you are flying directly from Canada 🇨🇦 to Cuba, the visa is included with your airline ticket. You do not need to apply separately.
• Traveling via another country: If you are going to Cuba through a third country (for example, with a layover in Panama or Mexico), you must apply for the e-visa online before your trip.

This new system is meant to make travel to Cuba smoother and more secure. However, travelers should be careful to apply for the e-visa in time and make sure all their information is correct.

US Travel Restrictions: Special Rules for American Travelers

Travel from the United States 🇺🇸 to Cuba is still more complicated than from other countries. The United States 🇺🇸 is the only country that does not allow its citizens to visit Cuba just for tourism. Instead, Americans must fit into one of 12 allowed travel categories.

Most Common Categories:

• Support for the Cuban People: This is the most popular category. Travelers must stay in private homes (called “casas particulares”), eat in private restaurants, and avoid spending money at businesses owned by the Cuban government.
• Educational People-to-People Travel: This category is for group trips with a focus on learning about Cuban culture and society.

Booking Flights:

• When buying a ticket from the United States 🇺🇸 to Cuba, travelers must pick the “Support for the Cuban People” category during the booking process.
• The US government (through the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC) has a list of hotels and businesses in Cuba that Americans are not allowed to use. Travelers should check this list before booking accommodations or tours.

For more information on these rules, travelers can visit the US Department of the Treasury’s Cuba Sanctions page.

The Bigger Picture: Cuba’s Tourism Strategy

Cuba is not just looking to North America and Europe for tourists. The country is also trying to attract visitors from Russia and China.

Russia:

• Cuba has been working to get more Russian tourists, especially as numbers from Europe and Canada have dropped.
• However, there are problems: Western sanctions, the falling value of the Russian Rouble, and negative news about Cuba in Russian media have made growth from this market uncertain.

China:

• In May 2024, Cuba started allowing Chinese citizens to visit without a visa. This is seen as a long-term plan, as it may take time for large numbers of Chinese tourists to start coming.

Cuba’s success in growing its tourism industry will depend on how well it can improve service quality, fix infrastructure problems, and deal with the political and economic issues that affect travel.

What Does This Mean for Stakeholders?

For Travelers:

• More flight options mean it’s easier and often cheaper to visit central Cuba.
• New visa rules require careful planning, especially for those not flying directly from Canada 🇨🇦.
• US citizens must follow special rules and should check the latest government guidance before booking.

For Airlines and Travel Companies:

• The expanded routes offer new business opportunities, but companies must pay attention to changing demand and quality concerns.
• Airlines need to inform passengers about the new e-visa requirements and help them avoid problems at the border.

For Local Businesses and Workers in Cuba:

• More tourists can mean more jobs and higher incomes, especially in hotels, restaurants, and transportation.
• However, businesses must work to improve quality and safety to keep visitors coming back.

For Governments:

• The Cuban government is betting on tourism to help the economy recover.
• Other countries’ governments, especially the United States 🇺🇸, continue to influence who can visit Cuba and under what conditions.

Practical Steps for Travelers

If you are planning to visit Cuba through Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport in Santa Clara, here’s what you should do:

1. Check flight options: Look for new direct flights from your country, especially if you are in the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Panama, Spain 🇪🇸, or Portugal 🇵🇹.
2. Apply for the e-visa: If you are not flying directly from Canada 🇨🇦, apply for your Cuban e-visa online within seven days of your departure. Make sure to use the official government website.
3. Understand US rules: If you are a US citizen, pick the right travel category and avoid restricted hotels and businesses.
4. Book early: With new flights and changing rules, booking early can help you get the best prices and avoid last-minute problems.
5. Stay informed: Rules and routes can change quickly. Check official sources and your airline’s website for the latest updates.

Conclusion

The expansion of international flights at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport in Santa Clara, Cuba, marks a big step forward for the country’s tourism industry. By making it easier for people from the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, and Europe to visit, Cuba hopes to bring in more tourists, boost its economy, and create new opportunities for local businesses and workers.

However, travelers need to be aware of new visa requirements, special rules for US citizens, and ongoing changes in the travel industry. By planning ahead and staying informed, visitors can make the most of Cuba’s improved international connectivity and enjoy all that central Cuba has to offer.

For more details on Cuba’s new e-visa system and official travel requirements, visit the Cuba Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Learn Today

Abel Santamaría Cuadrado International Airport → Main airport in Santa Clara, Cuba, becoming a hub for new international flights starting June 2025.
E-visa → Digital travel authorization replacing Cuba’s paper Tourist Card, required from July 1, 2025, for all travelers.
OFAC → U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control enforcing restrictions on permitted types of travel and Cuban entities Americans can use.
Tourist Card → Former paper visa for Cuba travelers replaced by e-visa system starting July 2025 for easier, digital processing.
Support for the Cuban People → U.S. travel category requiring stays in private homes and spending outside state-owned businesses in Cuba.

This Article in a Nutshell

Starting June 2025, Santa Clara’s Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Airport will host more international flights, enhancing tourism and economic recovery in Cuba’s central region with new routes, a modern e-visa system, and special U.S. travel regulations, offering travelers expanded access and opportunities.
— By VisaVerge.com