Cubana de Aviación cancels flights to Argentina and blames suppliers for not supplying them with fuel

Cubana de Aviación S.A. canceled flights to Argentina and assures that the decision is related to the United States economic embargo.

Aviation fuel supply companies in the Republic of Argentina refused to provide service to the Cuban airline, citing the provisions of the United States embargo against Cuba.

In a official announcement, the Caribbean government indicated that Argentina's refusal also affects other airlines contracted by Cubana de Aviación, in order to provide due protection and transport the affected passengers, so that have not been able to fulfill the commitments made to travelers.

"Passengers booked on these flights who are in the Republic of Cuba and plan to return to their country on April 24, will be protected to the extent that there are seats available, which can be offered by airlines that have air connections from Cuba. towards Argentina," he said Arsenio Arocha, General Director of Cubana de Aviación.

Passengers who have not started their trip to Cuba may receive a 100% refund for their air ticket.

The Cuban state airline had resumed the connection between Havana and Buenos Aires in May 2023. It also restarted flights from Argentina to Cayo Coco and with a final destination in the island's capital.

The number of Argentine travelers to Cuba increased by 44% between January and March 2024, with 12,753 Argentine tourists visiting the country.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and Argentina are going through a moment of extreme tension. Recently José Ramón Saborido Loidi was suspended from his appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Argentina and proposed as Cuban Ambassador to Portugal.

In September 2023, Saborido was appointed to the diplomatic position, after leaving his duties as Minister of Higher Education of Cuba (2016-2023). However, at that time Argentina was in an electoral process.

Javier Miley, leader of the political space La Libertad Avanza and critic of Latin American dictatorships, assumed the presidency of Argentina in December 2023. Shortly afterwards he decided not to appoint a diplomatic representative to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.