New charter programme to restore non-stop UK-Cuba flights next month

Both flights will operate to beach destinations, with a weekly service from Gatwick to Cayo Coco off Cuba’s east coast on Sunday from 5 May and a Manchester flight to Holguin, in the south-east of the island, on Fridays from 10 May.

Flights will be on a wide-body Airbus aircraft brokered by Spain’s Euroairlines, with 300-plus seats in economy and business cabins.

They follow the axing of the last service from the UK to Cuba – a Tui flight from Manchester to Varadero – in December, leaving only scheduled routes from mainland Europe or Canada as the best options.

Simply Cuba is one of the operators that will offer the flight. Trade sales manager Alan Meadows said European charter specialist Iron Travel and TripLatam, which specialises in travel for migrants living in South America, were behind the venture.

“They approached us and we said we would support it. I’m sure other operators will get onboard.

“It’s a positive thing for that part of Cuba, which has not seen large numbers of UK traffic since the days of Thomas Cook,” he said. “There has been massive investment in the smaller Cayos on the east coast, and these flights fit very well with what they are doing on that part of the island.”

Ten agents will be on the inaugural flight from Gatwick, he said.

Matthew O’Sullivan, director of Captivating Cuba, said: “There is a continued demand from the UK for direct flights to Cuba’s popular beach resorts, and the initial plans for a direct service to both Cayo Coco and Holguin can only be welcomed and will help to fulfil this.

“We look forward to adding the flight to our growing portfolio of routes to Cuba this spring.”