Some Madrid–Havana Passengers Are Buying a Second Ticket Just to Get There

Passengers booked on Air China between Madrid and Havana have spent days in limbo after repeated cancellations of flights CA865 and CA866, with further cancellations announced for 14 October. The Chinese Embassy in Cuba attributed the changes to technical reasons. Travellers describe being offered only distant alternatives, in one case a wait of up to 15 days, and some have paid for replacement tickets to finish their trips.

Individual accounts show the strain. One traveller paid €1,200 for a Madrid–Havana ticket with three suitcases before receiving a cancellation email. Another, due back from Cuba on 7 October, was rebooked for 10 October via Tenerife and La Palma. Others were told their next departure might be 18 October, and one passenger’s luggage had not reached Madrid after eight days. At Madrid, more than 200 people reportedly queued for claim forms to be signed or stamped, some waiting from 3pm to 10pm.

Some passengers were sent to a hotel in Alicante, then told to return to Madrid without a confirmed departure date. A number bought Air Europa tickets to complete their journeys, absorbing costs they hope to recover. The episode shows how thin the options can be on long-haul routes served by a single carrier: when a flight is cancelled, the alternative may be days away, and the choice becomes waiting or paying again.

Rights matter here. EU passenger rules apply to flights departing from Madrid even when the airline is not European, and if a cancellation stems from a technical issue within the airline’s control, compensation of up to several hundred euros per person may be possible depending on the circumstances. Passengers are also entitled to rerouting or a refund, meals during long waits and accommodation for overnight delays. Keep every receipt, get the reason for cancellation in writing, and note your final arrival time.

Sources: AirHelp