Air China has arranged a special flight from Havana to transport passengers who had been stranded in Cuba following repeated cancellations of their route to Madrid and Beijing. The operation took place amid the aviation fuel crisis affecting Cuban airports, which has forced several airlines to suspend or adjust their services.
The additional flight, identified as CA590, departed from José Martí International Airport on the night of Monday, October 19, after the Embassy of China in Cuba announced its schedule for 10:30 PM local time.
According to FlightAware records cited by Reuters, the plane took off from Havana and landed in Nassau, Bahamas, from where it was scheduled to continue to Madrid and then to Beijing.
The extraordinary operation was a response to the frequent schedule changes and cancellations of the regular flight CA866, which connects Havana with the Chinese capital via Madrid.
The diplomatic representation attributed the interruptions to "technical reasons," without specifying whether they were related to the fuel shortage in Cuba.
An emergency flight for affected passengers
The Chinese Embassy reported that flight CA590 was intended for passengers whose flights CA866 had been canceled before October 10 and who had been unable to travel.
Affected individuals could present themselves at the Air China counter at Havana airport starting at 5:00 PM on Monday, the 19th, to manage their boarding at no extra cost.
The diplomatic representation warned that the available seats were limited and advised travelers to check for any schedule changes and to arrive early enough to complete the necessary procedures.
The company had been experiencing several interruptions since the beginning of October.
The last completed operation of flight CA865, heading from Beijing to Havana, prior to the series of cancellations, was on October 9.
The services scheduled for the 10th and 14th were canceled, while the one on October 21 underwent a change in schedule: its departure from Madrid was moved from 14:45 to 22:45.
The extraordinary flight provided an alternative for some of the affected travelers, although it did not restore the usual schedule nor guarantee an immediate solution for all passengers awaiting their return.
The fuel shortage complicates air operations in Cuba
Although Air China and the Chinese Embassy have not confirmed that the company's specific cancellations are due to supply issues, Reuters linked the operational difficulties to the shortage of Jet A-1 aviation fuel that has been affecting Cuba since February 2026.
The Cuban Air Navigation Company (ECNA) issued successive notices to pilots regarding the unavailability of this fuel at ten Cuban international airports: Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Manzanillo, and Cayo Largo del Sur.
The announced restriction remains in effect until November 1, which forces airlines to reorganize their operations, seek alternative refueling options, or suspend certain services.
Companies such as Iberia, Turkish Airlines, World2Fly, Air Canada, and Air Transat have suspended operations to Cuba during 2026 amid supply challenges.
Air Europa, which continues its flights between Madrid and Havana, has had to introduce a technical stop for refueling in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on its return flights to Spain. This measure is confirmed at least until November 30th.
Stranded passengers, additional expenses, and jobs at risk
The cancellations by Air China have caused financial losses and personal complications for many Cuban travelers who need to return to Spain, where some have work commitments that they cannot keep postponing.
Among those affected are passengers who have had to purchase new tickets with other airlines, incur unexpected expenses for accommodation and transportation, or remain for days without a definitive departure date.
The Cuban Rosy López, known on social media as Roselynn Lu, reported that more than 200 people were waiting at the airport without receiving satisfactory responses from the airline.
He also questioned the difficulties in formalizing complaints: "They don't want to sign the complaint form, they don't want to stamp anything."
Another passenger reported that her mother had paid 1,200 euros for a ticket for October 14, but later received an email notifying her of the cancellation. According to her testimony, the alternative offered was to wait up to 15 days to be able to travel.
For those residing and working in Spain, uncertainty about return dates can result in prolonged absences from work and the risk of losing their jobs. Some affected individuals have chosen to purchase more expensive tickets with other airlines to avoid further inconveniences.
The interruptions have also adversely affected the transportation of goods and packages. The Madrid-based agency D'Nodarse acknowledged that it had pending shipments without a specific delivery date, according to a report on cancellations between Madrid and Havana.
"Behind every shipment, I know there is a great need, a family waiting," explained a representative of the agency.
Fewer alternatives for traveling between Cuba and Spain
The situation with Air China exacerbates the difficulties of air connectivity between Cuba and Spain, following the reduction or suspension of operations by several airlines throughout the year.
Air China usually maintains two weekly flights on its Beijing-Madrid-Havana route, while Air Europa continues to operate flights between the Spanish and Cuban capitals, although with adjustments due to supply issues.
The uncertainty also affects the crews. The Air Europa unions requested that flights to Cuba be voluntary and described the operational uncertainty surrounding these services as "maximum."
For its part, Air China has not publicly provided a definitive timeline for the normalization of its operations. Reuters reported that neither the airline nor the Chinese aviation regulator responded to its requests for comments, while the Chinese foreign ministry referred the inquiries to other departments.
Passengers who are still awaiting a new departure date continue to rely on the company's rescheduling and the availability of seats on a route with increasingly limited alternatives.
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