Amid the Cuban migration crisis, dozens of families—many of whom sold their belongings to leave the country—find themselves stranded on the island after the Colombian airline Avianca canceled all its flights from Havana to Bogotá.
The news outlet Martí Noticias reported that Avianca had announced in May its intention to resume flights from Havana starting July 2nd, with six weekly frequencies, using Airbus A320 aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers, offering "more than 2,100 seats per week."
This announcement led to a massive purchase of tickets by Cubans, many of whom were looking to migrate from Nicaragua to the United States. However, an airline representative informed Martí Noticias that "the start of flights on the Bogotá-Havana route was postponed due to operational issues," a statement that left many affected without options, as they had sold even their homes to leave the island.
An Avianca employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the decision was due to operational problems caused by a lack of aircraft and not political pressures. "We are a family of four people affected by Avianca's flight issues. We are in a temporary zinc house because we sold everything," said Ismael Martínez Ruiz, one of the affected.
Graciela López, a resident of Santiago de Cuba, recounted that she had sold her house and everything inside it to emigrate with her three children. "I am practically on the street. I'm renting a small room. My mother is sick, recently operated on, and now I find out that Avianca is closed," she lamented.
Avianca committed through a statement to refund the money for the tickets to those affected; however, many Cubans had also purchased other tickets from Bogotá to San Salvador and then to the capital of Nicaragua, a country that does not require a visa for Cubans and is used by many to start their journey to the southern border of the United States.
The announcement by Avianca complicated Cuba's air connectivity with South America, as just a few days ago, Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) also informed that it would suspend its route between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Havana starting July 25, 2024.
The main airline of the South American nation did not specify the reason for the route's cancellation, although industry analysts anticipated that such actions usually occur when the business is unsustainable and generates losses. The suspension of BoA added to the previous decision by Aerolíneas Argentinas to cease its operations to the island's capital.
The recovery of tourism in Cuba following the pandemic remains much slower than in other Caribbean countries.
Impact of Avianca's Flight Cancellation on Cuban Migrants
The cancellation of Avianca's flights has left many Cubans in a difficult situation. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding this issue.
Why did Avianca cancel its flights from Havana to Bogotá?
Avianca canceled its flights due to operational issues, specifically a lack of aircraft, rather than political pressures.
What options do affected Cubans have now?
Avianca has committed to refunding the money for the tickets to those affected. However, this may not fully compensate for the additional costs and disruptions caused by the cancellation.
How has this affected Cuba's air connectivity with South America?
The cancellation by Avianca, along with similar actions by other airlines like Boliviana de Aviación and Aerolíneas Argentinas, has significantly reduced Cuba's air connectivity with South America.