Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport

Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (IATA: VRA, ICAO: MUVR), formerly known as Varadero Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto de Varadero), is an international airport serving Varadero, Cuba and the province of Matanzas. The airport is located 5 km from the village of Carbonera, closer to the city of Matanzas than to Varadero. The closest airport to Varadero is Kawama Airport. In 2009, the airport handled 1.28 million passengers, making it the second busiest airport in Cuba after José Martí International Airport in Havana.

Overview

Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport was built in 1989 and inaugurated by Fidel Castro, thus replacing the old Varadero airport located in Santa Marta, currently known as Kawama Airport. The airport was named after a journalist, fighter for the Cuban Independence and black rights activist in Cuba Juan Gualberto Gómez (1854–1933).

The terminal building has shops for tourists (including rum, cigars, T-shirts, books, carvings, pharmaceuticals) both before customs check point, at a large departures lounge with cafeterias on the upper level and a smaller air conditioned VIP lounge the lower level.

Immigration checkpoint consists of wooden booths for push doors opened by immigration officers after travelers have been processed. Customs check point consists of three x-ray machines. Two flights of stairs and an escalator take travelers to the departure lounge. Tour operators offices are located near the domestic terminal area.

The ground handling equipment is imported mainly from North America. There are four jet bridges (serving parking areas 2 to 5), but air stairs are used for the remaining aircraft parking space #1 on the apron by the terminal.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations
Air Canada Rouge Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Air Transat Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Halifax, Hamilton, Moncton, Ottawa, Québec City, Winnipeg
American Airlines Miami
Azur Air Charter: Moscow-Domodedovo
Blue Panorama Airlines Milan-Malpensa
Condor Seasonal: Frankfurt, Munich
Corsair International Paris-Orly
Cubana de Aviación Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Edelweiss Air Zürich
Eurowings Seasonal: Düsseldorf, Munich
Interjet Mexico City
LOT Polish Airlines Charter: Warsaw–Chopin
Magnicharters Seasonal: Monterrey
Neos Seasonal charter: Milan–Malpensa
Nordwind Airlines Seasonal charter: Moscow–Sheremetyevo
Orbest Seasonal: Lisbon
Servicios Aéreos Profesionales Punta Cana
Sunwing Airlines Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal–Trudeau, Ottawa, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver
Seasonal: Bagotville, Charlottetown, Deer Lake, Fredericton, Gander, Halifax, Hamilton, Kelowna, London (ON), Moncton, Québec City, Regina, Saint John, St. John's, Saskatoon, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Winnipeg
Thomas Cook Airlines Manchester
Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia Seasonal charter: Copenhagen
TUI fly Belgium Brussels
TUI fly Netherlands Amsterdam
Wamos Air Madrid, Guatemala City
WestJet Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Calgary

Accidents and incidents

There have been five significant incidents involving aircraft from or en route to the airport since the 1950s. Only 1 flight involved resulted in fatalities. Three flights involved Cubans hijacking an aircraft to flee to the United States.

  • March 6, 2005 - Air Transat Flight 961 Airbus A310 returned safely to airport following detachment of rudder after take off.
  • December 29, 1992 - Aerocaribbean Antonov 26 was hijacked en route to Varadero Airport from Havana. The aircraft landed in Miami.

Accidents and incidents that occurred at Varadero (Santa Marta) Airport (now as Kawama Airport):

  • July 3, 1961 - Cubana de Aviación Douglas DC-3 was hijacked en route to Varadero Airport from Havana. Aircraft lands in Miami.
  • April 25, 1959 - Cubana de Aviación Vickers Viscount was hijacked after takeoff from the Varadero Airport and forced to land at Key West International Airport.
  • November 1, 1958 - Cubana de Aviación Flight 495 Vickers Viscount 755D crashes in Nipe Bay when attempting an emergency landing at Preston Airport. Plane was en route to Varadero from Miami with 20 on board. Only 3 survived with 17 fatalities.

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

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Tips & Hints
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Amaury J
28 July 2017
Much better than Havana airport. Not crowded, clean, fast lines and immigration queues.
Colin Turnbull
21 January 2012
VIP at the airport is worth the 25 pesos. Fast track checkin, tax line and security. Plus all you drink in the lounge.
Aníbal Carvajal
23 February 2014
Pequeño aeropuerto que a veces colapsa cuando llegan más de 2 vuelos, pero tiene lo justo y necesario, no olvides cambiar tus euros por CUC, y recuerda guardar los 25 para el final de tu viaje ;)
ViktoriyaShh
7 December 2017
Если забыли что-то купить,то можно в duty free здесь, есть ром,сигары,кофе и тд, цены обычные.Но полиэтилен.пакет-1€!зажигалки забирают,вроде кто-то проносил на себе. WiFi есть, но работает местами.
Mihail Pankov
14 October 2022
Аэропорт небольшой, есть бесплатный Wi Fi на 30 минут, есть дюти фри , есть в свободном доступе зарядки для телефонов, работает кондиционер.
ELsie Alfa
15 June 2016
Es pequeño, ahí puedes comprar souvenir ya pasando la revisión aunque es obviamente más caro..
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