Havana, November 20 (RHC)--   Thirty four airline companies have requested to travel to Cuba after the reopening of all international airports in the country, according to industry sources.

According to Brigadier General Armando Luis Daniel López, president of the Institute of Civil Aviation of Cuba (IACC), before the terminals' closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 60 companies were flying to the Island, and little by little, they are asking to return.

On March 23, 2020, Cuba canceled commercial air operations, including charter and regular flights, which resumed on October 15 at all airports, except at Havana's, which continued its operations last Sunday.

The IACC representative stated in the Round Table program Thursday that there were 2,380 humanitarian flights, cargo flights, medical collaboration flights, evacuation flights, and other contingencies during the closing period.

For his part, Roberto Peña, president of the Cuban Aviation Corporation, said that there is a decrease in travelers' flow between 50 and 60 percent compared to 2019.

However, Peña said during the pandemic  Corporation carried out maintenance work in the terminals and on runways and the capital repair of the catering plant.

Regarding the airport personnel, Colonel William Perez, Deputy Chief of the General Customs of the Republic (AGR), assured that nobody was infected and highlighted the workers' preparation to guarantee the safety and agility of the operations in the terminals after the reopening.

The director of the AGR informed that the customs policy remains unchanged, with the authorization of the free import of medicines and up to 25 kilograms of personal effects.

Dr. Carmelo Trujillo, head of International Health Control of the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap), explained the protocol at the entry points to the country. Health personnel takes PCR samples from all passengers, regardless of their nationality.

The Minsap official called for the travelers' discipline, who must be kept isolated until the results of such tests are known, which can take between 24 and 48 hours. In the case of residents in Cuba, a second sample is taken on the fifth day for greater security.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the health fee of US$ 30, established in Resolution 293 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, will allow sustaining the cost of all the measures applied at the border.