Related videos:
Passengers traveling with Air Europa between Spain and Cuba will no longer be able to check in multiple additional bags, even if they are willing to pay for them. The airline has restricted the baggage allowance for flights to Havana to only one extra piece that can be added to the included baggage allowance in the ticket, a restriction that does not apply to the rest of its route network.
The measure, noted on the official website of the company, has surprised many travelers and travel agencies, some of whom arrived at Madrid-Barajas and Tenerife Norte airports with several additional bags and found out at the check-in counter that they would not be able to board them.
One of the affected individuals reported that the decision is being implemented "without prior notice" and claimed that dozens of passengers had to leave part of their luggage behind.
"They only allow the purchase of one additional suitcase on top of what is included with the ticket. This has resulted in dozens of passengers and their luggage being stranded at the airports of Madrid and Tenerife when they were supposed to fly to Havana," he explained.
According to that testimony, the airline justified the measure by the need to carry more fuel and to avoid additional stops during the return flight.
The explanation coincides with the aviation fuel supply crisis that Cuba is experiencing. Since February of this year, several aviation notices (NOTAM) have warned about the lack of Jet A-1 fuel at various airports on the island, including the José Martí International Airport in Havana.
As a result, Air Europa added a technical stop in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) since June 13 to refuel before continuing the flight to Madrid. Reducing the weight carried allows for a greater amount of fuel to be loaded and improves the aircraft's range.
The new restriction applies to all fare types. Economy Lite passengers will still not have checked baggage included; those traveling with Economy Standard or Economy Flex are allowed one suitcase weighing up to 23 kilograms; and Business class customers retain the allowance of two pieces, each weighing up to 32 kilograms. However, on the route to Havana, it will only be possible to add one additional suitcase, regardless of the booked fare. Members of the SUMA Silver, Gold, and Platinum programs, as well as Elite and Elite Plus customers of SkyTeam, will continue to be exempt from the fee for that first extra piece.
The restriction especially impacts Cubans residing in Spain who take advantage of each trip to transport food, medication, clothing, and other essential items for relatives on the island, a common practice given the scarcity experienced in the country.
The impact of the measure is amplified by the limited availability of flights between Spain and Cuba. Since Iberia suspended the Madrid-Havana route on June 1 and the departure of World2Fly on May 20, Air Europa has become the only Spanish airline operating direct flights between the two countries.
The reduction in supply has also driven up ticket prices. During July, round-trip tickets between Madrid and Havana frequently exceed 1,200 euros, while a one-way trip can surpass 800 euros.
Although Air Europa recently announced that it will increase its weekly flights to Havana to four, the company warned that its schedule starting in November may change depending on the evolution of the operational conditions of the route.
Filed under: