New Air Conditioning System Installed at Havana's José Martí Airport Terminal 3

The José Martí International Airport announced on its social media that "within the next few hours," they expect to resolve the air conditioning issue with the installation of a new climate control system. "With the arrival of new material resources and the dedication of those who have tirelessly worked on this task, the José Martí International Airport continues to make positive strides in recovering the climate system in the halls of Terminal 3," the optimistic post read on Facebook this Thursday.

The post added that it is expected that "within the next few hours, the rooftop unit installed in recent days will be offering direct climate control to the final waiting lounge for passengers." A rooftop unit is a direct expansion climate control system that can both heat and cool an enclosed indoor space. These units are installed on rooftops, distributing air inside through ducts.

"How many hours are the next few hours?"; "Still having air conditioning problems? Then continue with the rest of the country," two commenters reacted with irony to the announcement.

In a previous post, airport authorities indicated that work continued "non-stop" to "shorten the time needed to get the air conditioning systems up and running." "From early hours, mechanical and chemical cleaning of the condenser tubes in the chillers is being carried out, the operation and startup of the latest rooftop units are being supervised, and maintenance and cleaning of the currently installed and operational rooftop units continue," read another post.

However, despite the urgency implied in these recent posts, there has been no air conditioning since mid-May, when the first traveler complaints appeared on social media. The situation has become chaotic with the arrival of summer and the further increase in heat.

Earlier this week, it was reported that an Italian tourist suffered a heat stroke due to the oppressive temperature inside the terminal. Additionally, there was a recent report of Chinese tourists fainting upon arrival on an Air China flight to Havana. "People started to faint, and since there were so many in that condition, the doctors couldn't keep up. We Cubans had to assist the Chinese," journalist Elizabeth Cánova reported on social media.

Irán Cueto Carmona, General Director of José Martí International Airport, even appeared in a video this week explaining that they are actively working to resolve the lack of air conditioning at the country's main airport. Nearly two months after the first social media complaints about the air conditioning problems, Cueto Carmona explained that they are installing a group of rooftop units to complement the main cooling system of the terminal.

Cueto Carmona indicated that the "problems" with the climate system at Terminal 3 originated from a malfunction, but he did not provide specific details. His delayed explanation came nearly two months after the breakdown, likely prompted by Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the Minister of Transport, who has been the most publicly visible Cuban minister and recently visited the facility seeking answers.

On May 14 and 15, workers at Terminal 3 reported on Facebook that they were working tirelessly to solve the issues affecting the climate system. The lack of air conditioning is a recurring issue at Havana Airport, causing discomfort for both the staff and the travelers.

Since 2021, several repair actions have been undertaken at the airport, which authorities claim have brought "significant improvements" to the infrastructure, including the air conditioning systems. Authorities have repeatedly discussed the need to expand Terminal 3, which receives international flights from Europe and other regions. Despite the recognized urgency, such an expansion would require a multi-million investment, and the current economic crisis in the country presents challenges for its realization.