Venezuela’s Airline Is Flying Back Into a Cuba Without Jet Fuel

Conviasa, Venezuela’s state-owned airline, is bringing back two international routes it shelved less than three weeks ago. The carrier suspended flights from Caracas to Havana and from Caracas to Mexico City on October 27, saying it wanted to concentrate its aircraft on domestic flying. Havana service resumed on November 13, operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Mexico City route, which serves Felipe Ángeles International Airport rather than the main Benito Juárez airport, returns on November 17 with one flight a week on Tuesdays.

The Cuba pause had been blamed on the high cost of operating Conviasa’s Airbus A340, a four-engine long-haul jet, on a route with modest demand. The airline has not said what changed its mind. Its return comes at an awkward moment for Cuban aviation, because jet fuel itself is in short supply on the island.

Jet A-1 is currently unavailable at ten Cuban airports. For Havana, an official notice to airmen, NOTAM A3875/26, warns of the shortage until 04:00 UTC on December 1. Airlines have adapted in different ways. Copa tops up its tanks in Panama, Air Europa makes a stop in Punta Cana, and Air China refuels in Nassau. American Airlines and Southwest are flying their Cuba routes without relying on fuel bought on the island, carrying enough for the round trip.

For travelers heading to Cuba over the coming weeks, the fuel situation can mean longer journeys, unexpected technical stops and tighter weight limits on some flights, which can occasionally affect how much cargo or baggage an aircraft can take. Confirm your routing and baggage allowance with your airline before you fly, and build some slack into any onward plans on arrival.

Sources: aeroTELEGRAPH, Directorio Cubano