Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with an area of 42,803 square miles. Air travel to many of the region’s most popular destinations will involve flying over the country, particularly for flights originating in North or Central America. When planning a flight, it is important to be fully aware of the permits you need for your route. In this article we will examine the requirements for Cuban overflight permits.
Permit Requirements
When transiting Cuban airspace, overflight permits are mandatory for both private flights (non-revenue) and charter flights (non-scheduled commercial). Once issued, permits will be valid for the duration of the day requested (based on Universal Coordinated Time), and operators may overfly the country using any valid flightpath.
General Aviation (GA) operators have access to east-west and west-east overflights on approved airways. Note that the use of J-routes is not usually be permitted by Cuban Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Information Required for Permit Application
The following are required when applying for a Cuban overflight permit:
- Name and address of operator
- Aircraft type
- Registration no.
- Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
- Flight schedule
No aircraft documentation is necessary. Once approved, the overflight permit is issued as a four digit number. This should be placed in Field 18 of your flight plan in the format RMK/PERMIT CUBA XXXX.
Note that when overflying Cuba, it is important to maintain consistency in permit filings. Crews will need to use the aircraft’s call sign if the permit was obtained using a call sign, or the tail number if the permit was obtained using the tail number. If any permit revisions are necessary, always be sure to provide the same aircraft reference (either the call sign or tail number) that was submitted on the original permit request, as well as the complete flight schedule from the original request.
Jetex can arrange and process all of the permits and permissions required for overflying Cuban airspace.
Lead Times for Cuban Overflight Permits
The official notice period required by the Instituto de Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba (IACC) to process a permit request is three working days. Routine permits are generally obtained within two working days. For urgent cases, Jetex can obtain special approval in a matter of hours, even on weekends and holidays (at the discretion of the Cuba aviation authorities).
Cuban overflight permits should not be requested more than two weeks in advance. If your journey will involve multiple overflights of the country, it is recommended that you request all permits at the same time. Note that Cuba overflight permits can also be set up on a monthly basis.
Fees for Cuban Overflight Permits
Cuba assesses fixed overflight fees based on two main factors. These are the weight of the aircraft, and the route taken (either over Cuban territory, or via Oceanic routes). Operators are advised to check ICAO’s Tariffs for Airports and Air Navigation Services (Doc 7300) for full details of the most recent charges which apply.
For information on overflight fees for neighboring countries in the region, please review our article Overflight Fees in Latin America.
Arrange Your Next Trip with Jetex
Planning a trip to the Caribbean? We can assist you with all short notice permit applications, payment of navigational fees, international flight planning, and much more. You can count on us for:
- Coordination for overflight and landing permits
- Fuel supply across every destination in the region
- Ground handling services at all airports
- Accommodation arrangements with globally recognized hotel chains
- Ground transportation services for passengers and crew
- Bespoke concierge services
We are on standby 24/7 to process any request. Our dedicated operations teams will take care of all the necessary arrangements for your journey, allowing you to relax and focus on the purpose of your trip.
To learn more about how we can support you, please contact our 24/7 operations team in Miami on +1(305) 306 4000 or itp@jetex.com.
