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

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 each in Africa and Asia. 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. 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 Bogotá, Colombia.

History

The current José Martí 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 Batabanó 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 Latin 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

Recent history

Aeroflot Ilyushin 96 at Terminal 3
Cubana Ilyushin Il-96 on the ramp

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. [citation needed]

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. [citation needed] 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. [citation needed]

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. [citation needed] 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.[4]

Terminals

There are currently four passenger terminals in use at the airport, plus a freight terminal.[5] 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. International Terminal 3 offers many modern facilities and jetways that the former international Terminal 1 did not provide. Terminal 5 is operated by Aerocaribbean.

For transfer between terminals, bus services are offered.

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

Terminal 3 check-in area

International Terminal 3 is the main international terminal which was opened in 1998. 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 4

This terminal handles freight.

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.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsTerminal
Aerocaribbean Baracoa, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Managua, San Pedro Sula, Santiago de Cuba 1, 5
Aeroflot Moscow–Sheremetyevo 3
Aerogaviota Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Santa María, Holguín, Kingston–Norman Manley, Montego Bay, Nassau, Port of Spain, Santiago de Cuba 1, 3
Aerotaxi Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Cayo Largo del Sur 5
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Ezeiza (ends 31 July 2016)[6] 3
Aeroméxico Cancún, Mexico City 3
Air Berlin Düsseldorf 3
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson 3
Air Caraïbes Paris-Orly (begins 16 December 2016),[7] Pointe-à-Pitre 3
Air China Beijing–Capital, Montréal–Trudeau 3
Air Europa Madrid 3
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle 3
Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau 3
American Airlines Charlotte, Miami (both begin November 2016),[8] 3
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna (begins 1 November 2016)[9] 3
Avianca Bogotá 3
Avianca El Salvador San Salvador 3
Avianca Peru Lima 3
Bahamasair Nassau 3
BEDY EasySky
operated by EasySky
St. Lucia-Hewanorra 3
Blue Panorama Airlines Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino 3
Cayman Airways Grand Cayman 3
Condor Frankfurt, Munich 3
Conviasa Caracas 3
Copa Airlines Panama City 3
Copa Airlines
operated by Copa Airlines Colombia
Bogotá 3
Cubana de Aviación Baracoa, Bayamo, Bogotá, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Camagüey, Cancún, Caracas, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Ciego de Ávila, Guantánamo, Holguín, Madrid, Managua, 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 Zürich 3
Eurowings Cologne/Bonn (begins 15 December 2016)[10]3
Evelop Airlines Madrid 3
Finnair Charter: Helsinki 3
Gol Transportes Aéreos Aruba, São Paulo–Guarulhos 3
IberiaMadrid 3
Insel Air Curaçao 3
Insel Air Aruba Aruba 3
InterCaribbean AirwaysProvidenciales 3
InterjetCancún, Mérida, Mexico City, Monterrey 3
KLM Amsterdam 3
LATAM Perú Lima 3
Meridiana Milan–Malpensa 3
Neos Milan–Malpensa 3
PAWA Dominicana Santo Domingo 3
Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas Seasonal: Madrid (begins 6 September 2016)[11] 3
TAAG Angola Airlines Luanda 3
TAME Quito 3
Virgin Atlantic London–Gatwick 3

Special Authority Charters

Due to the Cuban trade embargo imposed by the United States, flights between the United States and Cuba are operated as Special Authority Charters.[12] These scheduled charter flights are operated under US Government restrictions by authorized charter companies to and from designated US airports.[13]

AirlinesDestinationsTerminal
American Airlines1 Los Angeles, Miami, Tampa 2
American Eagle1 Miami 2
Aruba Airlines1 Miami 2
Choice Aire
operated by Swift Air1
Ft. Myers, Miami 2
Choice Airways1 Miami, Nashville 2
Delta Air Lines1 Atlanta 2
Eastern Air Lines1 Miami, Tampa 2
JetBlue Airways1 Fort Lauderdale, New York–JFK, Tampa 2
Sun Country Airlines1 Miami, New York–JFK 2
Swift Air1 Baltimore, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando–MCO, San Juan, Tampa 2
Notes
  • ^1 All 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

  • "1977 Aeroflot Ilyushin 62 crash" on May 27 killed 68 of the 70 on-board and one person on the ground. At the time the accident was the deadliest aviation accident in Cuba's history. It remains the second deadliest in Cuba's history. One of the victims was José Carlos Schwarz, a poet and musician from Guinea-Bissau.
  • 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.[14]
  • 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.[15]
  • 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.[16]

See also

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. ^ "COMPANY NEWS - Aeroflot May Shift A Hub to Miami - NYTimes.com". New York Times. October 4, 1990.
  3. ^ "First Direct Flight From New Orleans To Cuba Since 1958 To Take Off This Weekend". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Frustrated attempt to hijack a commercial passenger plane". ipsnews.net. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "Aerodromos de Cuba". iacc.gov.cu (in Spanish).
  6. ^ UBM (UK) Ltd. 2016 (April 29, 2016). "Aerolineas Argentinas Ends Cuba Service in late-July 2016". Routesonline.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/267620/air-caraibes-adds-cuba-flights-from-dec-2016/
  8. ^ http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-airlines-poised-to-remain-the-leading-us-airline-to-cuba-with-award-of-authority-to-operate-scheduled-service-to-havana-7-7-2016
  9. ^ UBM (UK) Ltd. 2016 (December 4, 2015). "Austrian Adds Havana Service from Nov 2016". Routesonline.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/267276/eurowings-schedules-havana-service-from-mid-dec-2016/?highlight=havana
  11. ^ "Plus Ultra Files New Preliminary Long-Haul Schedules from July 2016". routesonline. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. ^ "Cuba: US Restrictions on Travel and Remittances" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "United States Department of the Treasury - List Of Authorized Providers Of Air, Travel And Remittance Forwarding Services To Cuba" (PDF). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  14. ^ Harro Ranter (July 7, 1983). "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 registration unknown Havana-José Martí International Airport (HAV)". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ^ Template:En icon Americas: Cuba: Officer Dies In Plane Hijacking Attempt, The New York Times, May 4, 2007.
  16. ^ "Cuba passenger plane crash kills all 68 people on board". BBC News. Retrieved June 4, 2015.