While the Ortega-Murillo regime continues to win a political battle against the United States by exacerbating the migration crisis at its southern border and simultaneously filling its pockets with the profits generated by migrant trafficking on a global scale, Nicaraguans are paying the price for this strategy. As a result of the ticket sale blockade, aimed at preventing the transfer of irregular migrants, obtaining an airline ticket between Managua and Europe, especially to Spain or France, has become an odyssey, and if successful, one must pay exorbitant prices.
«It has never been so expensive for Nicaraguans to travel to Spain; it can cost up to $5,000 for a round trip, whereas before this migrant surge, it cost between $900 and $1,200,» says an airline official who also admits she is unclear about what is happening. The only thing she knows is that there is a blockade and that it is almost impossible to generate tickets between Madrid and Managua, and between Managua and Madrid, although if achieved, the prices are outrageous.
This means that for Nicaraguans living in Europe, mainly in Spain, or those who traveled and for some reason lost their return ticket, it is almost impossible to travel to Managua. And when they are fortunate enough to get a ticket, it comes at exorbitant prices. Additionally, most flights have a layover in the United States, meaning they need to have a U.S. visa to return to Managua.
Avianca blocked ticket sales on the website
While long-established Nicaraguan travel agencies state that ticket sales between Madrid and Managua are suspended because the system is blocked and does not allow tickets to be generated, and Avianca only offers the trip with a layover in Miami, small agencies advertising through social media issue tickets via Taca. The only requirement is that payment be made in Nicaragua and in two installments.
These difficulties arise just a few weeks after the Colombian airline Avianca announced, through a statement, the reactivation of the seasonal direct route between Madrid and San Salvador with a connection to Managua, with fares starting at $344 per leg, meaning less than $700 for the entire trip, to which the two hundred and some dollars for the San Salvador to Managua leg would be added, raising the round-trip ticket cost to about $900.
This route would operate between June and September with four weekly frequencies, adding to the permanent direct connection that the airline offers to Central Americans traveling to Spain and the rest of Europe via Bogotá.
Ticket prices on Iberia
However, for several days now, ticket sales on Avianca’s website to the three destinations it offers in Europe, which are Madrid, Barcelona, and London, have been blocked from today and for the rest of the year. When attempting to purchase through the call center, if it is explained that the traveler is Nicaraguan, they offer the route with layovers in Miami at prices exceeding $1,500 per leg.
For those traveling from Managua to the old continent via Spain or France, the situation is similar. Prices range from $2,000 to $5,000, and tickets must be purchased through an agency, as online, even if fares are shown, the system blocks the transaction at the moment of purchase.
The same happens with the Panamanian airline Copa, which also flies to Spain via Panama, but on its website it says that there are no flights available for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the Spanish airline Air Europa, which transported travelers between Central America and Europe through connections, says that all flights are currently suspended.
Iberia with Sky-High Fares
The other option that Nicaraguans usually use to travel to Europe is through the Spanish airline Iberia. Although there are some difficulties on the website, tickets can be purchased, but all flights have a layover in Miami, so a U.S. visa is required.
Additionally, although the fares offered are for economy class, starting at $860 for the outbound flight and $667 for the return, these do not include luggage or the possibility of changing the date if any issues arise. When these services are added, the price exceeds $1,000 for the Managua-Madrid trip and around $900 for the Madrid-Managua return journey.
Meanwhile, the Spanish airline Air Europa offers tickets between Madrid and Managua, meaning only for the return from Spain to Nicaragua, with fares ranging from $1,100 to $2,200.
Track record agencies do not sell
Airlines, including Avianca, and well-established travel agencies have confirmed to LA PRENSA the difficulties they are facing in selling tickets for flights between Managua and Madrid, as well as between El Salvador and Madrid.
They attribute this ticketing system blockade on these routes to the massive influx of migrants from various countries using the air bridge created by the Ortega-Murillo regime, which allows migrants to travel from Nicaragua overland to the U.S. for irregular entry.
However, in Spain, there is a growing number of small new agencies that advertise the sale of airline tickets for this route through social media. The only requirements are to have someone in Nicaragua who will pay for the ticket and to make the payment in two installments.
Nicaraguans pay for Ortega’s business
These agencies operate in several departments of Nicaragua, and the fares range from $900 to $1,200 per leg, which means between $1,800 and $2,400 for a round-trip journey between Managua and Madrid. They sell full tickets only for travel from Madrid to Managua.
These small businesses prefer cash payments, although some accept debit or credit cards. If payment is made with a card, it must be done in two installments: two-thirds of the amount is charged to Taca, which is Avianca’s subsidiary in Central America, and the remaining third is charged to the agency selling the ticket.
According to an employee of a well-known travel agency in Managua, who requests not to be identified for fear of retaliation, the high prices, which can even triple the original fares for these flights, and the difficulties Nicaraguans face to obtain a ticket on this route used by migrants, are the price they pay for the regime’s decision to exacerbate the migration crisis facing the United States.
