The Caribbean’s largest island could finally have a direct flight from the UK only months after initial plans to launch one were pushed back.
Iron Travel, a start up that specialises in providing various services tailored to Cuba, had hoped to begin flights between Manchester Airport to Holguin in the Latin American country in May, as well as a service from London Gatwick Airport to Cayo Coco.
It didn’t end up coming together for operational reasons, with Iron Travel Commercial Manager William Ruano saying: “We agreed to push back the operation as it was too soon and we have decided to change the routes too.
“Now we are going for the historical one: London LGW to Holguin HOG – Havana HAV twice a week. All of this changing [will be] subject to confirmation this week.”
The firm has sinced announced that the London Gatwick to Holguin service will start from April 2025, as reported by The Sun.
Gatwick Airport doesn’t currently have any takeoff and landing slots for flights to Cuba, Travel Gossip reports, though Iron Travel boss Ernesto Placer expects them to be granted midway through next month.
He told the outlet: “We’ve been informed that the slots have to be sorted out three months prior to the flights as these are charter flights. The slots in Havana and Holguin are processing.”
Latin American Airways is set to operate the service, using a Airbus A340-300 leased from Legend Airlines.
A one-way economy fare will be priced at £275 rising to £999 for a business-class flight.
The firm said trips can be booked via flight consolidators and “limited” supplies will soon be available in global distribution systems, which act as a conduit between travel bookers and suppliers.
Iron Travel is also talking to UK operators about the possibility of selling flights and packages, the company says.
There is currently no direct flight from Britain to Cuba, meaning Brits have to get a connection from either mainland Europe or Canada.
If the new service to Holguin does materialise this time, Brits will be landing in San Isidro de Holguin, the southeast side of the island.
The city has plenty going for it, with stunning squares and museums, but Havana with its grand architecture and wealth of classic cars is perhaps the major pull for travellers.
The soul of Havana is in the old town or Habana Vieja. Set around four magnificent colonial squares, you can walk its tumbledown streets in a couple of days.
It is reckoned that there are more than 900 buildings of historical importance alone and it is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.