Authorities Address Air Conditioning Outage at Havana's Airport

Irán Cueto Carmona, the general director of José Martí International Airport, appeared in a video explaining their active efforts to resolve the air conditioning shortage at the country's main airport. Nearly two months after initial complaints surfaced on social media about the airport's climate control issues, Cueto Carmona detailed that they are installing a “group of rooftops” to supplement the terminal's main cooling system.

Although the director did not clarify in his video, a rooftop unit is a direct expansion air conditioning and ventilation system that can generate either heat or cold within the same unit. It is mounted on rooftops, and air distribution to the interior is done through ducts.

Irán Cueto Carmona indicated that the “problems” with the climate system at Terminal 3 of José Martí International Airport originated from a malfunction, but did not provide further details about the issue.

“Currently, we are working very hard to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. Actions are being taken to import parts, pieces, and equipment. This will provide greater coverage and reliability for the terminal's cooling system,” the director noted.

In the final segment of his explanation, Cueto Carmona apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and all personnel using the terminal's services. “We hope that in the coming days there will be an improvement in our terminal’s climate system,” concluded the airport director, who did not specify a probable date for the return of this crucial service, increasingly needed with the arrival of summer.

The late explanation from the airport’s top authority comes nearly two months after the breakdown, likely prompted by the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, who has been the most visible Cuban minister to the public. Rodríguez Dávila visited the facility recently in search of answers.

“Forces from different entities and organizations are supporting the airport team in these efforts, and actions are being accelerated to mitigate the high temperatures in the coming days, gradually increasing the system's cooling capacity,” Rodríguez Dávila wrote on July 4. He also mentioned "larger-scale investments that will increase the system's capacity and stability."

In mid-May, social media erupted when it was revealed that with temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius, José Martí International Airport was operating without air conditioning. On May 14 and 15, workers at Terminal 3 reported on Facebook that they were working tirelessly to resolve the climate system issues.

The lack of air conditioning is a recurring problem at Havana's airport, causing discomfort for both the staff working there and the travelers who must pass through. Since 2021, several repair actions have been undertaken at the airport, which authorities claim have resulted in "significant improvements" to infrastructure, including air conditioning systems.

The Cuban Customs even noted that they had the capacity to handle a higher number of travelers. Renovations included new flooring, painting, and other restoration work on the old building, but problems persist.

Maintenance efforts have not resolved issues such as roof leaks, which become evident with every rain, leaving a negative impression. Authorities have repeatedly discussed the need to expand Terminal 3, which handles international flights from Europe and other regions. Despite the recognized urgency, this would require a multimillion-dollar investment, and the country's current economic crisis poses challenges to its realization.