Air agreement between Honduras and Cuba generates controversy among various sectors

The controversial open skies agreement between Honduras and Cuba is currently in the process of being approved in the National Congress, where it has raised concerns and questions from the opposition.

This treaty, in its third phase of debate, has raised questions about its implications for the country’s sovereignty and air security.

The provisions of the agreement would allow Cuban aircraft to stop over and fly over Honduran airspace for non-commercial purposes, which has raised alarm in some political parties and prolonged the debate over its approval.

In this context, deputies Merary Díaz , from the National Party (PN) and Claudia Ramírez , from the Salvadoran Party of Honduras (PSH), spoke out against this agreement.

Díaz said that this air agreement between the Central American and Caribbean nations does not benefit Honduras. He also indicated that it could lead to migration chaos.

“The PN’s position has been against it, because the agreement does not benefit the country, because it would lead to a loss of control in migration. This comes with other intentions and we have to be very careful,” he said.

“The problem is not the people of Cuba, but its leaders. This will create an air border for the left-wing nations of the Middle East. We are faced with a government that is not transparent,” he said.

For his part, the leader of the Liberal Party (PL), José Luis Moncada, considered that with this open skies agreement, the country would be complicit or facilitating irregular migration.

“Honduras is being complicit in irregular migration. There are charter flights that leave Cuba and arrive in Nicaragua with migrants and I do not doubt that they will soon arrive here,” said Moncada.

The benefits

Meanwhile, the deputy of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), Marco Eliud Girón , assured that the open skies agreement will bring many benefits between both nations, including tourism.

“It is important because we have received help from the Cuban people in terms of health. There are also many Hondurans who have a close relationship with Cuba, especially medical students,” explained Girón.

He added that ” there is no need to politicize the issue ,” since several first world countries have the same agreement with Cuba. “There is no need to look for any other political issue that is not relevant,” he said.

For his part, the president of the Association of Airline Companies of Honduras, Félix Reyes, said he was in favor of the air agreement, because in this way flights between these nations will be direct.

“This agreement is regulated by recommendations from the United Nations (…) the agreement is merely technical. The route will be from Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and Havana,” Reyes said.

The agreement

The agreement, identified as 07-DGA-JTC2024 and signed on November 9, 2023 in Havana, establishes a framework for air services between both nations.

On behalf of Honduras, it was signed by the Secretary of Planning and Strategy, Ricardo Salgado; while the Minister of Transport of Cuba, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, signed it on behalf of the authorities of the Island.