High demand for costly Miami flights to Cuba continues

[El Presidente]

 

 

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/02/09/high-demand-for-costly-miami-flights-to-cuba-continues/

MIAMI – Antonio Figuereo said he paid $600 for his flight from Miami International Airport to the Havana Jose Marti International Airport.

Figuereo said the cost of gas was steep since he had to drive to Miami from Orlando, where he lives. He also had to pay extra for luggage to take medications and gifts for relatives.

Cuba remains open for travel. Although tourist activities are still prohibited for Americans, there is a high demand for tickets to visit family despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“In response to a strong demand, you’re also seeing American Airlines moving from four flights to six flights, I think towards the beginning of March,” said Michael Zuccato, of Cuba Travel Services.

Southwest has one daily flight to Cuba from Tampa and JetBlue has two daily flights to Cuba from Fort Lauderdale. Zuccato said the demand is so high there is definitely a need for more flights out of South Florida.

On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added Cuba to the long list of countries that have a “very high level” of COVID-19 and recommend that Americans “avoid travel” there. This prompted the State Department to update a “Do Not Travel” advisory.

On the island, amid a financial crisis, Cubans were hit with the news of a new tax that will affect private street vendors who typically sell produce.

Manuel Cuesta Morua, a dissident, is worried about how this will affect the impoverished Cubans who are already dealing with food shortages.

There is also stress about world news. Tuesday’s headline on the Granma newspaper — Is the U.S. attempting to push Russia into an armed conflict? — portrayed the U.S. as the aggressor in the crisis.

[Corylax18]

He should have driven to Fort Lauderdale. Much closer to Miami than Orlando and I just paid under $600 for a round trip with less than a months notice. Southwest is flying a daily rotation from there too. 

About a week ago, United removed Havana from their schedule entirely until October. Zero flights from anywhere in their network, all summer. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for anticipated demand. 

I anticipated demand to outstrip supply through the end of year, certainly through the IATA "summer" season. 

Most Cuban's I've met don't believe a word of the garbage Granma writes. Its just a temporary step in the paper's path to becoming toilet tissue. 

[Dynamo320]

Was just looking at my carriers HAV flights the next few days. I noticed that the flights down are heavily weight restricted. I’m talking just over 50% of the seats are available for purchase. The amount of goods people are taking down combined with cargo must be absolutely enormous, as this is not normal (to that extreme) at all for such a segment. Not affected on the way back, as there is probably nothing down there to haul back. Might explain the high ticket cost. 

[Corylax18]

26 minutes ago, Dynamo320 said:

Was just looking at my carriers HAV flights the next few days. I noticed that the flights down are heavily weight restricted. I’m talking just over 50% of the seats are available for purchase. The amount of goods people are taking down combined with cargo must be absolutely enormous, as this is not normal (to that extreme) at all for such a segment. Not affected on the way back, as there is probably nothing down there to haul back. Might explain the high ticket cost. 

Its been that way as long as I've been flying down there. I've never been on a flight between any US destination and Havana that was more than about 50% full, most have always been around 30%. That's from Houston, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa. Miami wont be any better though. 

I was talking to a Southwest airlines Flight Deck Crew a few years ago and he said that they almost always leave Fort Lauderdale just over Max Landing Weight, for a 45 minute flight. A 737-800 can fly 6 hours with a full cabin of passengers, so the cargo Holds must be bursting at the seams. They also prefer to tanker enough fuel for the return flight.

American Airlines continued flying a 787 (widebody) throughout most of the pandemic, just for cargo, Baggage claim in Havana is Crazy!!

[Dynamo320]

@Corylax18For sure, not only landing weight concerns but max zero fuel weight issues also. Basically everything loaded minus fuel max structural weight. Comes into play southbound regularly into Cuba, Haiti, DR etc. Gotta clean out Costco before heading back!  I know I would. 

[Miguel Gracias]

Anyone recently came back from Cuba? I live in Florida now and am willing to travel Cuba again, but do not want to risk cigars being confiscated. Wonder how custom is doing regarding to flights between US and Cuba