Cuban journalist Elizabeth Cánova recounted the numerous hardships she encountered during her journey from Havana to Madrid, which included witnessing Chinese tourists fainting at Terminal 3 of the José Martí International Airport in the island's capital.
Through her Instagram account, the presenter and model began by stating, "This was a video I didn't want to record because it's like kicking someone when they're down, but what a shame, Cuba."
Following this brief introduction, Cánova revealed that there was no air conditioning upon her arrival: "Imagine the heat in Cuba combined with the hours of waiting because the system was down, and the consequences that followed."
"People started to faint, and since there were so many in that condition, the doctors couldn't keep up. We, the Cuban people, had to assist the Chinese tourists," she noted.
The Lucas TV show presenter also described that the check-in process was done manually, "with pen and paper," resulting in a two-hour flight delay.
Moreover, she criticized the attitude of the customs workers who "showed off a container full of rum bottles they had confiscated from passengers" before boarding the plane.
The negative experience didn't end after the delayed takeoff: "When we arrived in Madrid, our suitcases had been opened," she said, although "they didn't take anything," she clarified.
Born in Santiago de Cuba, Cánova gained prominence as the reporter for Canal Habana who went viral with a report about Marianao (a municipality in the capital) and the memorable phrase from the interviewees: "Marianao is awesome, Marianao is for having fun."
Looking for comments about the July 26th event in the island, the journalist found what the government expects: positive references, and a young couple raised sarcasm to unknown levels. “We have everything, food, water, electricity all the time. They never cut the power, we have water 24 hours. The population, the chicken, they give us plenty of chicken every day, no lines, they’re painting everything,” Cánova reported, conveying the message that this place was "the greatest."
The situation at the José Martí International Airport is not new. Three days ago, a man suffered a heat stroke and had to be assisted by several people in a terminal far from having the necessary conditions for passenger stay or wait.
Last weekend, Irán Cueto Carmona, the general director of the airport, appeared in a video explaining that they are actively working to resolve the lack of air conditioning.
Almost two months after the first complaints about the airport's air conditioning issues surfaced on social media, Cueto explained that they are installing "a group of rooftop units" to complement the main cooling system of the terminal.
Since May, Cibercuba has been reporting the continuous complaints about this issue, something almost unbelievable considering it is the main gateway to the largest island in the Antilles. However, various sources indicate that the problem will be resolved in the coming hours.
Given these circumstances, Elizabeth Cánova’s sentiment rings true: "What a shame, Cuba!"
Critical Issues at José Martí International Airport
The conditions at José Martí International Airport have been a topic of concern for many travelers. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the ongoing problems at the airport.
Why are there frequent air conditioning issues at José Martí International Airport?
The airport has been experiencing ongoing problems with its cooling system, which has been insufficient to handle the high temperatures and the volume of passengers.
What measures are being taken to resolve the air conditioning problems?
According to airport authorities, a group of rooftop units is being installed to complement the main cooling system, and efforts are being made to address the issue actively.
How have these issues affected passengers?
Passengers have experienced significant discomfort due to the high temperatures, leading to cases of fainting and heat stroke. The lack of air conditioning has also caused delays and manual check-in processes.