Dozens of passengers traveling to Moscow, Russia, reported a situation of chaos and abandonment at Frank País International Airport in Holguín on Thursday, after Nordwind Airlines left them stranded on the island.
A video shared by journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook shows the conversation between the affected travelers and the officials at Holguín airport.
The problem occurred on October 29, on the day of the passage of Hurricane Melissa through eastern Cuba. Nordwind Airlines changed its route, arranged the departure from Varadero International Airport, but did not notify the Cuban passengers.
The affected individuals, who traveled from various provinces in the country to catch the flight, learned at the airport itself that the plane would not depart from Holguín, but rather from Varadero, over 600 kilometers away.
"They had time to announce the change of date for the flight departing on October 30. Why didn’t they inform us it was from Varadero?" asks one of the affected travelers.
According to witnesses, the airport management completely disregarded the situation, refusing to provide transportation or any solution for the travelers, which include entire families, the elderly, and children.
The change of route would have been caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa and the weather conditions in Holguín. However, passengers agree that Nordwind Airlines and the Cuban airport authorities did not provide prior notice or offer alternative transportation, leaving them stranded and desperate.
"We understand that a hurricane occurred, but what makes no sense is that no one takes responsibility. We just want to make it to our flight, not to lose all the money and effort it cost us," lamented another affected individual.
In the midst of the worst migration crisis in recent Cuban history, where thousands of people seek to leave the country due to a lack of opportunities, the State demonstrates its inefficiency and indifference towards the suffering of its citizens. This incident reflects the chronic improvisation and institutional neglect that prevail in public services, even in critical infrastructures such as international airports.
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