After spending around 15 hours stranded at Georgetown airport in Guyana, waiting for a flight from Fly AllWays airline, a group of Cubans who were supposed to return to Cuba this Tuesday were transferred to Suriname, where they have been waiting for hours to go back to their country.
In two Facebook posts, Alfredo Ballesteros denounced the difficulties that Cubans have been facing since Tuesday night when they arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, intending to board the flight to Cuba. The passengers, who initially had tickets to travel on Wednesday, "received a communication from the airline that they needed to be at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on the night of the 14th at 9:30 pm," Ballesteros recounted.
However, when they arrived, "it was already being said there that the plane had not left Cuba. The night promised to be long. There were women, elderly, children..." he commented. The travelers stayed at the airport all night "without water, food, or the slightest attention" and without any explanations from the Surinamese airline.
"Will Fly AllWays compensate in any way for this matter?" Ballesteros asked, citing an audio message sent to him via WhatsApp by one of the stranded passengers: "They told us that the airline is not responsible for providing us accommodation or anything, I had never seen anything like this..."
Ballesteros reminded that "Fly AllWays is the only airline that flies directly between Havana and Georgetown, making it an option for many who do not wish to make stops," but he also referred to the "risks" and bad experiences passengers have had with the company.
"It’s not just about arriving late in Guyana and risking the interview appointment for many (I have suggested not to travel by Fly AllWays the day before the interview) — he warned — it’s also the inconsideration of changing tickets, leaving people overnight at the airport - without water, food, or the slightest attention. 'No one from the airline has shown up,' a relative told me over the phone. They are human, Cubans! The airline and its workers are obliged to respond and attend."
"Who attends, who responds to the Cubans at the airport? What time will they leave Guyana?" were the closing questions of his first post in the morning.
Hours later, in a second post that included a video, Ballesteros updated that they spent "the whole night in Georgetown (due to Fly AllWays’ irresponsibility) and the only food they were given was a spicy hamburger with a soda and a small bottle of water." Additionally, "no one from the airline showed up to provide answers," according to the travelers.
After about 15 hours stranded at Georgetown airport, the Cubans were taken to Suriname, "where they are at this moment as I write," he reported. "It’s no longer just a delay due to technical failure. It is a display of insensitivity, disrespect, inconsideration. Do they not respond to Cubans?"
Ballesteros assured that "the bad moments will continue - unfortunately - as long as people do not claim compensation from the airline and as long as the agencies (selling tickets) do not insist on the airline’s formality."
At the time of publishing this note, Fly AllWays has not issued any official communication regarding the causes of the flight delay. It is unknown if the Cubans have returned to Cuba after approximately 21 hours waiting for the flight.
The Surinamese airline launched direct flights between Georgetown, Guyana, and the Cuban capital in 2022. The inaugural flight took place on July 23, and it was announced that the route would operate once a week with a 180-seat aircraft.
The new itinerary allowed Cuban travelers - attracted by Guyana’s visa-free policy and needing to attend immigration interviews at the U.S. embassy in the South American country - to travel to Georgetown without having to go through neighboring Suriname or another region of Latin America.
Previously, Fly AllWays had already included Cuba in its destinations, with flights from Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, to Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana. In mid-June 2022, it received authorization from the Cuban government to operate a direct, non-stop route between Georgetown and Havana.
FAQs about Fly AllWays Flight Delays and Cuban Travelers
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent delays experienced by Cuban travelers with Fly AllWays airline.
Why were the Cuban travelers stranded in Guyana and Suriname?
The Cuban travelers were stranded due to a failure by Fly AllWays airline to provide a timely flight, resulting in long waits at both Georgetown airport in Guyana and in Suriname.
Did Fly AllWays provide any assistance to the stranded passengers?
No, according to reports from the passengers, Fly AllWays did not provide any water, food, or accommodations during their extended wait times.
What actions have been suggested to prevent such incidents in the future?
Passengers are encouraged to claim compensation from the airline and for ticket agencies to enforce stricter formality and reliability from Fly AllWays.
Has Fly AllWays responded to the delay incident?
As of the time of publishing, Fly AllWays has not issued any official communication regarding the causes of the flight delay.