Cubans are stranded on the island after Avianca canceled its operations from Havana.

In the midst of the Cuban migration crisis, dozens of families – many of whom sold their belongings to leave the country – are stranded on the island after the Colombian airline Avianca canceled all its flights from Havana to Bogota.

Martí Noticias reported that Avianca had announced in May its intention to resume flights from Havana starting on July 2 with six weekly frequencies, using Airbus A320 planes with a capacity of 180 passengers and offering "more than 2,100 seats per week."

That news triggered a massive purchase of tickets by Cubans, many of whom were looking to emigrate from Nicaragua to the United States.

However, a representative of the airline informed Martí Noticias that "the start of the flights on the Bogotá-La Habana route was postponed due to operational issues," an announcement that has left many affected without options, as they had even sold their homes to leave the island.

An Avianca employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the decision was due to operational issues caused by aircraft shortages and not political pressure.

"We are a family of four people who are affected by the issue of Avianca flights. We are in a borrowed zinc house because we have sold everything," said Ismael Martínez Ruiz, one of the affected individuals.

Graciela López, a woman from Santiago, recounted that she had sold her house with everything inside to emigrate with her three children. "I am practically on the streets. I am renting a small room. My mother is sick, recently operated on, and now I find out that the airline Avianca is closed," she lamented.

Avianca committed through a statement to refund the money for the tickets to those affected; however, many Cubans had also purchased other tickets from Bogotá to San Salvador and then to the capital of Nicaragua, a country that does not require visas for Cubans and is used by many to begin their journey towards the southern border of the United States.

Avianca's announcement has complicated air connectivity between Cuba and South America, as just a few days ago Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) also reported that it would suspend its route between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Havana starting on July 25, 2024.

The main airline of the South American nation did not specify the reason for the cancellation of the route, although sector analysts anticipated that this type of action usually occurs when the business is unsustainable and generates losses.

BoA's suspension was added to Aerolíneas Argentinas' previous decision to cease its operations to the island's capital.

The tourist recovery in Cuba after the pandemic remains much slower than in other Caribbean countries.