The unions of Air Europa demand that the operations to Cuba be voluntary for their crews, as reported this Tuesday by the specialized media Preferente.
The petition reflects the growing discontent among the workforce in light of the crisis the Island is experiencing and the pressures from Washington on companies that have commercial ties with the Cuban regime.
"The uncertainty is at its highest," union sources declared to Preferente, noting that the other Spanish airlines —Iberia, World2Fly, and Plus Ultra— canceled their routes before the summer and still do not have a return date.
Air Europa is, in practice, the only Spanish airline with direct flights to Cuba, alongside Air China, which operates two weekly flights on the Beijing-Madrid-Havana route, although there have been frequent cancellations due to "technical reasons" since the beginning of this month.
The situation contrasts with the strategy of the airline's management. Its owner, Juan José Hidalgo, has focused on increasing the presence at the destination: from three weekly flights at the beginning of summer, it increased to four in July.
Operating the route is not easy. Due to the shortage of Jet A-1 fuel in Cuba, Air Europa is compelled to make a technical refueling stop in the Dominican Republic on all its flights returning to Madrid. This measure, which began in February following the issuance of NOTAM A0356/26 —which warned of the unavailability of fuel at nine Cuban international airports— is expected to last at least until November 30.
Despite the additional operating costs, the investment has proven profitable. With the withdrawal of its Spanish competitors, Air Europa has monopolized the route and operates with full flights and high fares: tickets from Madrid to Havana are around 1,000 euros in October and reach about 1,400 euros during the Christmas season. The publication Reportur described the summer of 2026 as a "record-setting" season for the airline in Cuba.
Hidalgo's decision was labeled as "reckless" by competitors, but the occupancy and pricing data suggest that the move has yielded economic benefits.
In May, Washington signed an executive order imposing extraterritorial sanctions on companies linked to sanctioned Cuban entities, with a deadline in June to sever ties. Iberia suspended its route on June 1 and has extended the suspension until June 30, 2027. At least 11 international airlines have canceled operations with Cuba this year, resulting in over 1,700 canceled flights.
The energy crisis worsens the situation. The deficit in electrical generation on the Island reached a peak of 2,411 MW in August, resulting in blackouts of more than 20 hours daily in some areas. Ten Cuban airports maintain an official alert for fuel shortages until November 1, making each operation a complex logistical exercise.
Cuban tourism has experienced a 55.8% decline in international visitors in the first quarter of 2026. In this situation of increasing isolation, Air Europa remains the only reliable air link between Spain and Cuba, although internal tensions are growing among those who are required to operate these flights.
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