Cuban Woman Confronts Transport Minister Over Air Travel Issues: "We're Transported in Buses Without Refunds"

Johanna Jolá Álvarez made a public appeal this Tuesday directed at the Cuban Minister of Transport, expressing her dissatisfaction with what she sees as unfair treatment towards passengers who purchase tickets for domestic flights.

Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the minister of the sector, recently announced on Facebook the partial restoration of the air conditioning system at Terminal 3 of the José Martí International Airport in Havana. It was in that post where Jolá Álvarez voiced her concerns in the comments section.

Jolá Álvarez explained that travelers, many coming from other provinces and arriving at Terminal 1 in Havana after paying for expensive taxis, are informed they will be transported by bus instead of boarding their originally scheduled flights.

She pointed out that these changes are made without prior notice or explanation, and no refunds are offered for the altered service. Additionally, she noted that in some cases, the planes do not depart on the same day, forcing passengers to wait overnight, carrying their luggage outside the terminal, as they are not allowed to stay inside the facility.

This situation led Jolá Álvarez to question the Minister of Transport: “How is it possible that changes or cancellations are not communicated despite all passengers leaving their phone numbers?” she questioned in her message, emphasizing the lack of information provided to those affected.

The Cuban woman also expressed her concern over the absence of refunds for those experiencing drastic changes in transportation, from air to ground, which affects travelers both economically and in terms of time. “Who receives the complaints from the public and where is the response to the affected customer?” she added.

Finally, Jolá Álvarez trusts that the minister will not overlook this issue, which has caused significant distress among passengers, and hopes for a clear response that guides the public on how to proceed in such troubling and damaging situations.

Another internet user, identified as Lisbette CG, added: “Not to mention the hours and hours people spend in uncertainty about whether the flight will depart or not, with many children, including babies, among the passengers.”

“They offer a snack after seven hours of being stranded like animals, consisting of a juice and a bread roll, the same as those sold in the terminal’s cafeterias,” the complainant pointed out. “My opinion, if they can’t provide the service, they shouldn’t sell tickets.”

While on a trip, a Cuban noticed that at the Havana airport, out in the open, old planes are deteriorating due to government neglect and environmental conditions, as shown in a video posted on social media this Wednesday.

“They are rotting there,” said a person named Joan Licourt in a video posted on Facebook. “I once flew on that one to Santiago de Cuba,” added the young man, who noted that the aircraft, which might have flown again, now show a lamentable state.

The mobility of people between different provinces of Cuba has become a significant issue, as many often resort to private transporters due to the lack of state options. This situation is further exacerbated by the shortage of domestic flights.

In 2023, the Cuban regime announced that it would explore “the possibility of acquiring new aircraft” to revitalize its struggling sector, following years without flights to important international destinations due to a lack of planes by the only state airline.

“We continue to seek alternatives for both passenger and cargo transportation,” said Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the Minister of Transport, while blaming the U.S. embargo for the widespread precariousness in Cuba.