Joel Archer Santos, the president of the Cuban Aviation Corporation (Cacsa), has acknowledged to the state-run media the severe crisis currently impacting Cubana de Aviación. At the moment, the airline is operating with merely two aircraft on the island.
Back in March 2024, the airline announced plans to have three additional aircraft back in service before the year's end, including two long-haul planes and one medium-haul. However, this promise has not been fulfilled.
Archer Santos attributes the ongoing problems to the U.S. embargo, although critics argue that the so-called "blockade" is neither new nor a recent development. He explains that the crisis stems from the regime's short-term management approach. When an aircraft requires a part due to a breakdown, the component must be manufactured and shipped from abroad, causing delays.
This situation has forced the airline to keep refurbished planes grounded while waiting for crucial parts to arrive. Archer Santos also claims that they had to cancel the purchase of a new aircraft, again blaming the embargo.
In response, the airline has established connections with international flights to provinces such as Camagüey, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba. However, they have not been able to connect to Guantánamo or Manzanillo, areas without an immediate solution. Meanwhile, flights to Gerona, the capital of the Isle of Youth, have resumed with two weekly services to Havana.
After more than a year of suspension, the air bridge between the Isle of Youth and Havana was reinstated on December 19, 2024. The Havana-Gerona route now operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays. According to Islavisión, the ticket price is currently set at 300 CUP, and the resumed service has successfully merged the waiting list with the traveler list.
Earlier in December 2024, the IL 96 300 aircraft of Cubana de Aviación landed at José Martí International Airport after undergoing comprehensive maintenance in Russia, which took over a year.
The shortage of operational aircraft at Cubana de Aviación is not a new issue. This crisis has benefited foreign airlines, such as Air Europa, which have leased planes to Cuba, as well as American airlines that link various U.S. locations with multiple Cuban airports, including several routes to Havana.
Key Questions about Cubana de Aviación's Current Situation
Why are only two aircraft operational at Cubana de Aviación?
The limited operation is due to delays in receiving necessary parts for repairs, which are impacted by the U.S. embargo and logistical challenges in acquiring components from abroad.
What steps has Cubana de Aviación taken to address the crisis?
The airline has established international flight connections to certain Cuban provinces and resumed some domestic routes, such as the Havana-Gerona service, to mitigate the impact of the crisis.