Hopes have been raised that new direct flights between the UK and Cuba could launch at the beginning of May.
The Ministry of Tourism for Cuba has announced weekly flights will operate from Manchester and Gatwick.
On its Facebook page, the Ministry said the first flight will leave Gatwick for Cayo Coco on 5 May, while a weekly Manchester to Holguin (pictured) service will operate on Sundays, starting on 10 May.
If the flights go ahead, they would see the re-introduction of direct flights to the Caribbean island from the UK since TUI announced last November it would suspend sales to Cuba as part of a review of its long-haul programme.
TUI’s review put an end to the only direct UK flight, from Manchester to Varadero, which will cease at the end of April 2024 and will not resume next winter.
Cuba specialist Cuba Holidays has given more details on its Facebook page, saying the first direct flight will be on 5 May from Gatwick to Cayo Coco, with flight number Q41295 departing at 11:30 and flight Q41296 departing Cayo Coco at 16:30.
It adds the Manchester-Holguin flight Q41280 will depart 11:45, beginning Friday 10 May, with flight Q41280 returning at 23:00, arriving Manchester at 11:45 the following day.
Cuba Holidays says flights will be on Airbus A330-343 aircraft, operated by Spanish company Euro Airlines.
It added flights are scheduled for one year, with the option to continue.
The Ministry of Tourism for Cuba has directed people to [email protected] for more information. However, the company website is not yet fully operational.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport told Travel Gossip two charter flights have been scheduled for May. Gatwick has not yet responded to Travel Gossip’s request for more information.
Simply Cuba Business Development Manager Alan Meadows told Travel Gossip the news is promising but the operator is awaiting official confirmation.
Inset picture shows William Ruano, Commercial Director at Latin Link Travel, announcing the plans last week, next to Mayte Suarez Rueda, Head of Tourist Office and Counsellor of Tourism Affairs of Cuba in the UK (right) and a representative from Iron Travel (left).
