The national airline "Cubana de Aviación" has announced the cancellation of its flights to 7 international destinations Mexico, Cancún, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Caracas (Venezuela), Port-au-Prince (Haiti) Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) because of the tightening of the US embargo on Cuba. Routes between the capital and the eastern cities of Santiago de Cuba and Holguin will also be affected.

Arsenio Arocha Elías-Moisés, Deputy Director of the airline said that "Cubana de Aviacion" had been informed of the termination of two aircraft leases by third-country companies (without naming them) because of sanctions provided by the Trump administration against Cuba. He said that Cuba could not buy a plane and had to rent them and Cuba also does not have the possibility to have access to suppliers of parts, these companies being linked to American interests. Recalling that the latest measures ordered by Washington to strengthen the embargo entered into force last Monday prohibit the sale in Cuba of articles containing 10% of US components or telecommunications infrastructure.

Arocha said the suspension of operations to the 7 destinations will harm some 40,000 passengers by the end of the year and will cost Cuba about $10 million, as well as to affect the image of the Cuban company that will not be able to respect the commitments already made. However, Arocha reassures that all concerned passengers would receive full refund of their tickets.

Nevertheless, he said that the Cuban airline was looking for an alternative to this situation and that despite escalating pressure from the US Government, it is exploring ways to continue providing services.

Recall that since his arrival at the White House in January 2017, President Donald Trump has strengthened his policy vis-à-vis Cuba by increasing the trade embargo, limiting cruises and the number of US trips to island...

SL/ HaitiLibre