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José Martí International Airport

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José Martí International Airport

Aeropuerto José Martí
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorECASA S.A.
ServesHavana, Cuba
LocationBoyeros Municipality
Hub forCubana de Aviación
Aero Caribbean
Aerogaviota
Elevation AMSL64 m / 210 ft
Map
MUHA is located in Cuba
MUHA
MUHA
Location in Cuba
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 4,000 13,123 Asphalt
Source: Aerodrome chart[1]

José Martí International Airport (IATA: HAV, ICAO: MUHA), sometimes known by its former name Rancho-Boyeros Airport, is an international airport located 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Havana, Cuba, and is a hub for Cubana de Aviación, Aerogaviota and Aero Caribbean, and former Latin American hub for Aeroflot Soviet Airlines.[2] It is Cuba's main international and domestic gateway, and serves several million passengers each year.

The airport lies in the municipality of Boyeros and connects Havana with the rest of the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Europe and one destination in Africa. It is named in memory of patriot and poet José Martí.

In the 1960s the airport was bombed by B-26 aircraft from Brigade 2506, a CIA-sponsored group of Cuban exiles attempting to liberate Cuba from Fidel Castro. Cubans are not allowed to own aircraft or use the airport for either private or commercial flight. Only government-owned aircraft are allowed to use the facilities.

There are currently four passenger terminals in use at the airport, plus a freight terminal.[3] Terminal 1 is used primarily for domestic flights. Terminal 2 opened in 1988, primarily for charter flights to the United States. Ten years later on April 27, 1998, the International Terminal 3 was opened by Canada's then-Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, and former Cuban president, Fidel Castro. International Terminal 3 offers many modern facilities and jetways that the former international Terminal 1 did not provide. Terminal 5 is operated by Aerocaribbean.

Today, Copa Airlines is the foreign airline with most flights to the airport, operating 34 flights a week (roughly 5 daily flights) from Panama City, Panama and Bogota, Colombia.[4]

The airport is operated by Empresa Cubana de Aeropuertos y Servicios Aeronáuticos (ECASA).

History

The current Jose Marti Airport in 1930 replaced the Columbia Airfield, which was the first airport to serve Havana.

The original name of the airport, Rancho Boyeros, meaning the "(Bull) Drover Ranch", was in reference to the name of the plains/territory where the airport was being built. It was known as the Rancho Boyeros because in colonial times a local family had built a thatched hut and provided meals and an inn to the weary drovers that brought agricultural products to the capital from Batabano and Vuelta Abajo.

To give a progressive environment to the airport, the old ranch homes were transformed into a small town that would serve as an industrial, livestock, agriculture and commercial centre, rising comfortable homes, an industrial technical school, a paint factory and other facilities. The town today is known as the Boyeros Municipality.

Beginnings

  • 1929: The construction of José Martí Airport, formerly Rancho Boyeros Airport, was authorized in March 1929 by General Order No. 223.
  • 1930: On February 24, the airport opened, replacing Havana Columbia Airfield.
  • 1930: On October 30, the first flight by Cubana de Aviación (formerly Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss) from Havana to Santiago de Cuba carried the mail on a Ford Trimotor with stops in Santa Clara, Morón and Camagüey.
  • 1936: non-commercial flights to Madrid started with an Lockheed Sirius named September 4, commanded by Capt. Antonio Menéndez Pélaez. She was flown via Venezuela, Natal, Brazil, and Dakar, Senegal.
  • 1943: By January 1943 the airport had its first control tower, the first in the country.
  • 1945: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is formed at Havana.
  • 1945: Cubana's first international flight out of the airport was a Douglas DC-3 to Miami on May 15.
  • 1946: First transatlantic flight from any South American country to Europe: Havana-Madrid was on DC-4 , operated by Aerovias Cubanas Internacionales (Cunnair), founded by Cuban pioneer Reinaldo Ramirez Rosell.
  • 1948: On May 5 Cubana's first transatlantic flight Havana-Madrid was on DC-4 Estrella de Cuba.
  • 1950: On April 2 the airport had a second route to Europe, Havana-Rome on a Cubana de Aviación DC-4.
  • 1951: The first night flight landed at the airport from Santiago de Cuba with a DC-3.
  • 1953: First flight to Mexico City on a Cubana Constellation.

International service in the 1950s

Aeroflot Russian Airlines at Terminal 3.

Post-revolution

In 1961 diplomatic relations with the United States deteriorated substantially and with the United States embargo against Cuba, airlines from the United States were not permitted to operate regular scheduled flights to the airport. That year, two days prior to the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion organized by the CIA with the participation of Cuban exiles, Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft from Brigade 2506 bombarded José Martí Airport and Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba. In March 2015, regularly scheduled flights were resumed by Sun Country Airlines during the Cuban Thaw.

Because of Cuba's relationship with the Soviet Union, the airport during the 1970s and 1980s enjoyed the presence of many Eastern Bloc airline companies, such as Aeroflot, Czecho-Slovak Airlines, Interflug and LOT Polish Airlines. In 1977 an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-62 operating a scheduled flight from Moscow to Havana via Frankfurt and Lisbon crashed after takeoff from Lisbon, killing 68 of the 70 on board and one person on the ground. In 1989 a second Ilyushin Il-62, operated by Cubana, crashed after takeoff. All of the 115 passengers and 11 crew members as well as 45 persons on the ground were killed.

In 1988 Terminal 2 was constructed in anticipation of future charter flights to the United States. In the 1990s the special charter flights were approved by the US government, to operate from Miami for Cuban citizens living in the United States that have close relatives in Cuba. Today, various airlines operate non-stop scheduled charter service between Havana and Miami. Terminal 2 was remodelled and expanded in 2010.

On December 31, 1997 a Concorde landed in Cuba for the first time, landing at José Martí Airport. The Air France flight London-Paris-Barbados-Havana was received at the airport by Fidel Castro who boarded the aircraft and greeted the crew and passengers. On April 26 the following year, the new International Terminal 3 was inaugurated by Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Cuba's ex-president Fidel Castro. In 2002 Air Freight Logistics Enterprise (ELCA S.A.) opened José Martí's first freight terminal known as the Aerovaradero Freight Terminal. The terminal has a 600 t (590 long tons; 660 short tons) capacity, 2,000 m3 (71,000 cu ft) of space in two refrigeration and freezing chambers, with humidity and gas controls.

In 2007 three young recruits who deserted from the Cuban army tried to hijack a commercial passenger aircraft aiming to defect to the United States. At Terminal 1, the would-be hijackers killed one of the hostages, a lieutenant colonel.[6]

Terminals and destinations

Terminal 1

Domestic Terminal 1

Domestic Terminal 1 used to be the main international and domestic terminal building in the airport prior of the opening of terminal 2 and 3-which was constructed in 1998. The terminal is located on the east side of runway 06. It is now used primarily for domestic flights.

Terminal 2

International Charters Terminal 2 handles mainly schedule charter flights to and from Miami, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and New York for US residents with special permission from the United States government and Cuban citizens with US visas, the scheduled charters are operated by Gulfstream Air Charters, ABC Charters, Marazul Charters, CTS Charters and C & T Charters. The terminal is located on the north side, just in front of the threshold of runway 24. It was constructed in 1988 when the first charter flights after the revolution were opened from Miami. There are bars, bookshops, newsagents and also a restaurant on the second floor, as well as car rental.

In 2010 Terminal 2 went through remodeling and expansion.

Terminal 3

International Terminal 3 is the main international terminal which was opened in 1998 by Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Cuba's ex-president Fidel Castro. It is the largest and most modern of all terminals. Ticketing and departures are located on the upper level, arrivals and baggage carousels are located on the lower level. There are several car rentals located in the Arrivals Area.

Terminal 5

Aerocaribbean Terminal 5 is mainly used by Aerocaribbean, but Aerotaxi, which is a Cuban-based charter airline, is also present. In 2010 all flights from the United States were temporarily handled at this terminal due to construction and remodeling at Terminal 2.

Transfer Between Terminals

There is a bus service between the terminals.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger airlines and destinations

Countries served by flights from José Martí International Airport (includes seasonal and future destinations).
AirlinesDestinationsTerminal
Aerocaribbean[7] Baracoa, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Managua, San Pedro Sula, Santiago de Cuba 1, 5
Aeroflot[8] Moscow–Sheremetyevo 3
Aerogaviota Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Santa María, Holguín, Kingston, Montego Bay, Nassau, Port of Spain, Santiago de Cuba 1, 3
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Ezeiza [9] 3
Aeroméxico Cancún, Mexico City 3
Air Canada[10] Toronto–Pearson 3
Air Caraïbes[11] Pointe-à-Pitre 3
Air Europa[12] Madrid 3
Air France[13] Paris–Charles de Gaulle 3
Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau (begins 21 December 2015)[14] 3
Avianca[15] Bogotá 3
Avianca El Salvador[15] San Salvador 3
Avianca Peru[15] Lima 3
Bahamasair[16] Nassau 3
Blue Panorama Airlines[17] Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino 3
Cayman Airways[18] Grand Cayman 2
Condor[19] Frankfurt
Seasonal: Munich (begins 25 March 2016)[20] 		3
Conviasa[21] Caracas 2
Copa Airlines[4] Panama City 3
Copa Airlines
operated by Copa Airlines Colombia[4] 		Bogotá 3
Cubana de Aviación[22] Baracoa, Bayamo, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Camagüey, Cancún, Caracas, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Ciego de Ávila, Guantánamo, Holguín, Madrid, Manzanillo, Mexico City, Montréal–Trudeau, Nueva Gerona, Paris–Orly, San José, Santa Clara, Santiago de Cuba, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Toronto–Pearson, Victoria de las Tunas 1, 3
Edelweiss Air[23] Zürich 3
IberiaMadrid 3
Insel Air Curaçao 3
Insel Air Aruba Aruba 3
InterjetCancún, Mexico City, Monterrey (begins October 15, 2015)[24] 3
KLM[25] Amsterdam 3
LAN Perú[26] Lima 3
Neos[27] Milan-Malpensa 3
TAAG Angola Airlines[28] Luanda 3
TAME[29] Quito 3
Transaero AirlinesMoscow–Domodedovo (ends 15 December 2015)[30] 3
Virgin Atlantic[31] London–Gatwick 3

Special Authority Charters

Due to the comprehensive Cuban trade embargo imposed by the United States, flights between the United States and Cuba are operated as Special Authority Charters.[32] These scheduled charter flights are operated under US Government restrictions by authorized charter companies to and from designated US airports.[33]

AirlinesDestinationsTerminal
American Airlines1 Los Angeles (begins 12 December 2015),[34] Miami, New York–JFK, Tampa 2
Eastern Air Lines1 Miami[35] 2
JetBlue Airways1 Fort Lauderdale,[36] New York-JFK,[37] Tampa[36] 2
Sun Country Airlines1 Miami, New York–JFK,[38] Tampa 2
Swift Air1 Baltimore,[39] Fort Myers (begins 2 November 2015),[40] Miami, Orlando,[41] San Juan[42] 2

1All Special Authority Charter flights are operated by Gulfstream Air Charters, ABC Charters, Marazul Charters, CTS Charters and C&T Charters.

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Cubana Cargo
operated by Cargojet Airways 		Toronto–Pearson
Sky King, Inc. Miami

Accidents and incidents

  • On July 7, 1983, Air Florida Flight 8 with 47 people on board was flying from Fort Lauderdale International Airport to Tampa International Airport. One of the passengers handed a note to one of the flight attendants, saying that he had a bomb and telling them to fly the plane to Havana, Cuba. He revealed a small athletic bag, which he opened and inside was an apparent explosive device. The airplane was diverted to Havana-José Martí International Airport and the hijacker was taken into custody by Cuban authorities.[43]
  • On September 3, 1989, Cubana de Aviación Flight 9646, an Ilyushin Il-62M (CU-T1281) operating a non-scheduled international passenger flight to Cologne (Cologne Bonn Airport), Germany crashed shortly after take-off. All of the 115 passengers and 11 crew members as well as 45 persons on the ground were killed and the aircraft was written off. One of the persons on board was Roberto Volponi, son of the writer Paolo Volponi.
  • On March 31, 2003, a Blue Panorama Airlines Boeing 767 (EI-CXO) skidded off the main runway 06 in poor weather and gusting winds. No injuries occurred.
  • On May 3, 2007, two army recruits hijacked a plane destined for Miami at José Martí International Airport in Havana. The men killed a hostage before being arrested prior to takeoff. It was the first Cuban hijacking attempt reported since the spring of 2003.[44]
  • On November 4, 2010, Aero Caribbean Flight 883, an ATR 72–212, crashed in the centre of the country with 68 people on board. The aircraft was flying from Santiago de Cuba to Havana when it went down. Twenty-eight foreigners were reported to be among the passengers. There were no survivors.[45]

See also

List of the busiest airports in the Caribbean

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ "Jose Marti Airport diagram" (PDF). iacc.gov.cu (in Spanish). May 10, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  2. ^ New York Times,Aeroflot May Shift A Hub to Miami
  3. ^ "Aerodromos de Cuba". iacc.gov.cu (in Spanish).
  4. ^ a b c "Copa Airlines/Copa Colombia Routemap". Official Copa Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "First Direct Flight From New Orleans To Cuba Since 1958 To Take Off This Weekend". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Frustrated attempt to hijack a commercial passenger plane". ipsnews.net. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  7. ^ "Aerocaribbean Domestic/International Scheduled Destinations". Official Aerocaribbean Site. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  8. ^ "Aeroflot Destinations". Aeroflot Official Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Noticias de Prensa Latina". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Air Canada Destinations". Official Air Canada Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Air Caraibes Destinations". Official Air Caraibes Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "Air Europa Destinations". Official Air Europa Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "Air France Caribbean destinations and frequencies" (PDF). Official AF Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  14. ^ "airtransat Adds New Caribbean Sectors from Dec 2015". Airlineroute.net. April 30, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c "Avianca Official Website Timetables". Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  16. ^ "Bahamasair Bookable Flight Destinations". Official Bahamasair Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  17. ^ "Blue Panorama Airlines Destinations". Official Blue Panorama Website (in Italian). Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  18. ^ "Cayman Airways "Where we fly"". Official Cayman Airways Destinations. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  19. ^ "Condor Destinations". Official Condor Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  20. ^ airliners.de (German) retrieved 23 June 2015
  21. ^ "Conviasa Airlines Destinations". Official Conviasa Website (in Spanish). Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  22. ^ "Cubana Timetables". Official CU Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  23. ^ "Edelweiss Air S14 Operation Changes: New Service to Edinburgh / Havana / Las Vegas". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  24. ^ http://static.interjet.com/assets/htmls/sala-prensa/varadero-y-la-habana.pdf
  25. ^ "KLM Press Release". Official KLM Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  26. ^ "LAN Perú to launch Havana". Air-Journal (in French). air-journal.fr. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  27. ^ "Neos Airlines Timetables". Official Neos Website (in Italian). Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  28. ^ "TAAG Angola Airlines Routemap". Official TAAG Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  29. ^ "TAME Destinations". Official TAME Website. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  30. ^ [1]
  31. ^ "Virgin Atlantic Destinations". VS Official Website. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  32. ^ "Cuba: US Restrictions on Travel and Remittances" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  33. ^ "United States Department of the Treasury - List Of Authorized Providers Of Air, Travel And Remittance Forwarding Services To Cuba" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  34. ^ "American Airlines And Cuba Travel Services Announce New Charter Service Between Los Angeles And Havana". Travel Industry Wire.
  35. ^ Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. (May 22, 2015). "Eastern Air Lines and HavanaAir Charters To Provide Daily Air Service to Cuba". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  36. ^ a b "JetBlue announces additional flights from Florida to Cuba and Haiti". WESH. February 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  37. ^ "Governor Cuomo, JetBlue, Cuba Travel Services Announce Direct Charter Flight from New York to Havana". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  38. ^ "Flights between NYC and Havana begun via Sun Country charter". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  39. ^ "BWI To Offer First-Ever Charter Service To Cuba". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  40. ^ http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12117905/florida-agency-offers-cuban-air-travel-packages
  41. ^ Orlando Sentinel (April 9, 2015). "Orlando airport will offer flights to Cuba on July 8 - Orlando Sentinel". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  42. ^ "Primer vuelo regular entre San Juan y la Habana desde 1959". Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  43. ^ Harro Ranter (July 7, 1983). "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 registration unknown Havana-José Martí International Airport (HAV)". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  44. ^ Template:En icon Americas: Cuba: Officer Dies In Plane Hijacking Attempt, The New York Times, May 4, 2007.
  45. ^ "Cuba passenger plane crash kills all 68 people on board". BBC News. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

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