T1

One terminal, all flights: SCU T1 is the whole airport

Every commercial flight at Antonio Maceo International Airport runs through T1, so American Airlines, Cubana, Air Century, Sky High, interCaribbean Airways, Fly All Ways, and Sunrise Airways all share the same check-in hall and security zone. The building handles both domestic and international traffic, so arrivals and departures sit in the same 2008-modernized structure with different flows split after passport control.

Layout and moving through T1

T1 uses a simple linear layout: one main departures hall at ground level for check-in, security, and exit immigration, then a single concourse for international gates and a smaller area for domestic. Because there is only T1 at SCU, there is no terminal transfer; all connections stay airside in the same building, and your only split is between domestic and international corridors after passport control.

Check-in, security, and immigration timing

For US-bound American Airlines flights, airlines and tour operators often suggest arriving around 3 hours before departure, especially for morning and early afternoon departures when multiple international flights can bank together. Security and exit immigration sit just past the check-in counters, so once your bag is tagged you move directly to screening and passport control without changing floors or wings.

Lounges: VIP Lounge and Cubana de Aviacion Lounge

The VIP Lounge in T1 sits airside in the international departures area and typically opens in line with the day’s first outbound international flight, then closes after the last departure clears. Access usually comes via airline invitation, some tour packages, or pay-on-entry in USD or euros, and seating is limited, so arriving 90 minutes before boarding gives you a better shot at a seat.

The Cubana de Aviacion Lounge operates as Cubana’s branded space in the same international departures zone, serving Cubana passengers on routes like Havana and regional Caribbean services. Entry rules tend to favor Cubana’s ticket classes and invite-only access, so if you are on another airline, staff at the door will usually redirect you to the general VIP Lounge instead of selling entry here.

Food and shopping gaps in T1

No specific restaurants or shops are consistently catalogued for SCU T1 in public directories, and recent data does not list branded chains by name, so plan to eat in Santiago de Cuba city before heading to the airport and carry any essentials like snacks or baby items in your hand luggage. You will usually find at least a small snack bar or kiosk past security, but opening hours can track flight banks and may not match your 06:00 or late-night departures.

Arrivals, baggage claim, and ground transport

Arrivals flow through immigration, baggage claim, and customs on the ground floor of the same T1 building, with international bags often arriving on one of a few shared belts serving multiple flights. Outside the customs exit, pre-arranged taxis and tour buses wait along the curb, and because SCU sits only about 10–12 km from central Santiago de Cuba, most city rides come in under 30 minutes depending on traffic and routing.

One practical tip

Because SCU T1 has limited documented food and retail and uses a single shared concourse for all airlines, bring your own snacks and water (to refill after security) from Santiago and build at least a 2.5–3 hour buffer before international departures to absorb any check-in, immigration, or payment hiccups at the airport.