Several countries adjust air connectivity with Cuba

TTC

The airline and tourism industries in Cuba are currently facing operational challenges stemming from an energy crisis that has significantly affected fuel availability in the country.

This situation, deemed a force majeure event, has led to the cancellation of several routes, as well as adjustments to the schedules of some of the main airlines operating in the region.

Several companies have decided to suspend routes or implement flexible measures, while others—such as the Russian airline Rossiya Airlines and Aeroméxico—have opted to maintain operations to support the country’s air connectivity.

PIE: Rossiya Airlines. Photo: Archive

Rossiya Airlines, part of the Aeroflot Group, confirmed that it will continue its flight schedule to Havana and Varadero despite the fuel shortage.

The Russian group reported that it will maintain operations and adjust routes when necessary to include additional refueling stops outside of Cuban territory. It also assured that it will keep passengers informed of any changes in the operational situation.

This is also the case for Aeroméxico, which confirmed to the newspaper La Jornada that it will continue operating its daily route between Mexico City and Havana as normal.

Its counterpart, VivaAerobus, took the same stance, reporting that its flights to Cuba will remain unchanged.

La Jornada noted that both airlines are expected to load larger quantities of fuel from Mexico, even though this will represent an increase in operating costs.

However, airlines such as Air Canada temporarily suspended their flights to Cuba, while other companies adopted policies of penalty-free changes, refunds, or logistical adjustments to avoid further disruptions.

While Air Canada has decided to temporarily suspend its flights to Cuba due to the fuel crisis, it will continue operating special flights, known as “ferry flights,” to repatriate the approximately 3,000 passengers currently on the island who wish to return to Canada.

Meanwhile, the Canadian group WestJet announced that its planes will depart from Canada empty to support the organized return of Canadian guests currently vacationing in Cuba.

“All aircraft dispatched to Cuba will carry sufficient fuel to safely depart without reliance on local fuel availability,” an official statement explained.

Furthermore, it noted that the WestJet Group has decided to begin a gradual and orderly reduction of its winter operations in Cuba, including WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec.

Iberia enabled date and destination changes for its passengers, or refunds for ticket prices, while other airlines began exploring routes with technical stops to ensure refueling outside the island.

Air Europa reported that, due to the current situation, flights connecting Madrid and Havana will incorporate a technical stop in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for refueling.

The company indicated that this operational arrangement would begin on February 10 and continue, for now, on the 11th and 12th, which will result in changes to passengers’ planned itineraries.

In response to this situation, the Cuban Air Navigation Company (Empresa Cubana de Navegación Aérea S.A.) issued an official statement reiterating its commitment to air connectivity and the nation’s development, given the current circumstances on the island.

“We want to inform our community, users, and clients that, despite the circumstances, we are maintaining our services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” the statement read. It emphasized that efforts will be made to guarantee the safety, fluidity, and order of the airspace, supporting airline operations and ensuring that aviation in Cuba maintains its reliability levels.

For several months, Cuba has been experiencing a severe fuel shortage due to the tightening of sanctions and financial persecution by the United States government against ships and companies that transport fuel to the country.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, the threats and secondary sanctions have led suppliers and shipping companies to avoid trading with Cuba, significantly reducing the arrival of oil and refined products.