TRAVEL

What U.S. fliers will find when they fly to Cuba's Santa Clara airport

The taxi queue at Santa Clara's airport blends in with locals awaiting arriving passengers.
The taxi queue at Santa Clara's airport blends in with locals awaiting arriving passengers.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
The departure board shows the handful of flights out of Santa Clara on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
The departure board shows the handful of flights out of Santa Clara on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Inside the VIP lounge at Santa Clara airport. The seats are nicer and there's a bar, but the sevices are otherwise minimal.
Inside the VIP lounge at Santa Clara airport. The seats are nicer and there's a bar, but the sevices are otherwise minimal.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
After clearing immigration and security there is plenty of room to sit, but little else in the way of amenities in the terminal at the Santa Clara airport.
After clearing immigration and security there is plenty of room to sit, but little else in the way of amenities in the terminal at the Santa Clara airport.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Part of the Santa Clara airport terminal as seen on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
Part of the Santa Clara airport terminal as seen on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Food options at the Santa Clara airport are found mostly outside the terminal, across the street.
Food options at the Santa Clara airport are found mostly outside the terminal, across the street.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Packaged snacks represent the bulk of the options at the one bar past security at Santa Clara airport.
Packaged snacks represent the bulk of the options at the one bar past security at Santa Clara airport.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
There's plenty of baggage claim space in Cuba's Santa Clara airport.
There's plenty of baggage claim space in Cuba's Santa Clara airport.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Multiple baggage belts are available at Santa Clara's Aeropuerto Abel Santamaria, but handling and sorting remains a manual task.
Multiple baggage belts are available at Santa Clara's Aeropuerto Abel Santamaria, but handling and sorting remains a manual task.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Souvenirs are available in the Santa Clara airport departures hall.
Souvenirs are available in the Santa Clara airport departures hall.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
Inside baggage claim at Santa Clara's airport. Seen here are signs for Canadian carriers WestJet and Air Transat, which already serve Cuba.
Inside baggage claim at Santa Clara's airport. Seen here are signs for Canadian carriers WestJet and Air Transat, which already serve Cuba.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
The Santa Clara airport terminal on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
The Santa Clara airport terminal on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
The rental car facilities and tourist information at Santa Clara Airport.
The rental car facilities and tourist information at Santa Clara Airport.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
There's plenty of space in the departure hall at the Santa Clara airport for the volume of passengers the new flights will bring.
There's plenty of space in the departure hall at the Santa Clara airport for the volume of passengers the new flights will bring.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
After clearing immigration and security there is plenty of room to sit, but little else in the way of amenities in the terminal at the Santa Clara airport.
After clearing immigration and security there is plenty of room to sit, but little else in the way of amenities in the terminal at the Santa Clara airport.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY
A nearly empty departures hall as boarding wraps up.
A nearly empty departures hall as boarding wraps up.
Seth Miller, Special For USA TODAY