CAL returning to Cuba next week
(CNS): Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) has been given approval from the Cuban Government to resume its commercial service to Havana next week after more than 20 months. The regular route was stopped when the borders were closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite efforts to introduce a regular repatriation flight and then resume the actual service since Cayman reopened its airport to commercial traffic earlier this year, it has taken time to get clearance from the authorities in Cuba, as its borders have also been closed.
“We’re excited to resume our Grand Cayman-Havana route this month now that Cuba has reopened its borders to travellers and tourists,” said Cayman Airways Executive Vice President of Finance and Commercial Affairs, Paul Tibbetts.
“We know how important this route is for many, and we are happy to now be in a position to operate the service again. This December will actually be 20 years since Cayman Airways first started its regular service between Grand Cayman and Havana, so while we celebrate the resumption of service, we are also celebrating two decades of connecting Cuba to the Cayman Islands.”
Tibbetts said the Havana flight schedule is initially relaunching with one flight per week on Tuesdays. Flight KX832 will depart Grand Cayman at 12:45pm and arrive in Havana at 1:50pm. On the return, flight KX833 will depart Havana at 3:10pm and arrive on Grand Cayman at 4:15pm.
Meanwhile, as CAL adds more services and other commercial airlines begin flying into Owen Roberts International once again, Customs and Border Control has installed automated self-service kiosks to allow eligible travellers to complete the landing process themselves.
CBC Director Charles Clifford said the kiosks were launched a few months ago in a limited capacity.
“This allowed us to monitor the performance, make adjustments, and to garner travellers’ feedback while we had less than normal arrivals,” he said. “We are pleased to report that nine kiosks are fully operational and available for use. This permits the landing process to be expedient and more efficient, thereby allowing eligible travellers an improved customer experience.”
The kiosks are similar to those in other countries whereby individual travellers or those travelling in family groups are prompted to scan their passport, have their photograph taken by the kiosk camera and answer a series of questions.
Each traveller will complete this process and once the information entered is verified, a receipt will be issued for each individual. Travellers will then take their printed receipt along with their other travel documents to a CBC officer. Using the kiosks is voluntary and passengers can still go to an officer instead.
All arriving passengers will still need to adhere to the Control of COVID-19 Regulations at ORIA.
Seats for the Havana flights are now available for booking through the CAL website, by calling CAL on 345-949-2311, or through a local travel agent. Travellers are reminded to research and secure all travel documents required for entry into any country, including COVID-related travel documents.
A guide is available on the Cayman Airways website here.
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Category: Local News, Travel
Sex tourism is back!
Wonderful, hopefully Cuba is not as much of a police state, and people can go grocery shopping without having to wear masks that end up in the landfill polluting our planet.
FYI, Cuba has been a police state since 1952. Sorry you didn’t hear.
Grocery shopping???
Kenneth Bryan is a friggin joke and a tool of the Rich!
a few unnecessary words at the end there 11:37
How about a second flight a day to MIA, or at least staggering the flight times on alternate days between morning and afternoon so people can make reasonable connections.
The mid-day flight is the worst of both worlds.
The Cayman Airways website indicates that additional flights to Miami will start by December 16th, with an early morning flight on Thursdays and a late afternoon flight on Saturdays. https://www.caymanairways.com/flight-schedule. I am sure they will add additional flights if passenger numbers warrant that. They are also adding more flights to Tampa as of January.
It would appear that the government sees no need to inform the people of their plans. This didn’t just happen today. We have a right to know and even vote/voice objection or support to plans which affect us. This is one of those times.
we don’t matter. Our concerns don’t matter. Our input is not required.
Probably went to a secret vote among top ranking CS officials and politicians. And most likely there were complaints that GFs and baby mamas in Cuba matter too. You can’t have some getting a bit on the side in Honduras whilst restricting the opportunity in Cuba.
Man we not that stupid… we diversified our portfolio long before the pandemic… we keep multiple mamas at the same time including Hondos, Cubanas, Dominicanas, Nicas and we often throw in some Jagans for good measure.
More viruses coming, what a Christmas this going to be.
Those ones are a personal choice. Double mask it.
Why?!?
Booty calls!
I mean cultural visits…