The oil company YPF decided not to supply more fuel to the planes of the state airline Cubana de Aviación. The measure had been notified in March, when the airline authorities were informed that the restriction would take effect on April 10.
Sources from the Argentine company explained that the provision seeks to amend an irregularity that left the company exposed to sanctions from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), place where its shares are listed. They also ruled out a political issue behind the determination. “It was a strictly business decision,” they said. As part of the United States blockade of the Caribbean island, companies listed on Wall Street cannot establish business with the dictatorship of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
In fact, when the commercial relationship was resumed in 2018 during the government of Mauricio Macri, Cubana de Aviación created a public limited company in Argentina with headquarters in an office on Sarmiento Street in Buenos Aires to be able to enter into commercial contracts with local firms. Despite this, YPF authorities were warned at the beginning of the year from the United States about the possibility of the oil company being sanctioned.
Cuban Aviation suspended its flights this week between Havana and Buenos Aires since it ensures that the restriction imposed by YPF makes it impossible for the vehicles to return to Cuba.
In response to the query of Infobaeofficial sources from the Ministry of Transportation explained that There is no prohibition for Cubana to comply with its air routes. The usual operations are with all the required authorizations granted and the controversy over fuel is framed in a discussion between two companies.
Likewise, they announced that this Friday the undersecretary of air transport, Hernán Gómez, will receive the manager for Latin America of the Cuban Aviation company, in order to discuss the problem and find a way to find a solution or reach an agreement between the parts.
The airline issued a statement informing its users about the cancellation of flights between both countries. scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24. The document, which is signed by the general director of Cubana, explains that this suspension arises from the refusal of Argentine oil distributors to charge them fuel. A decision that also extends to other lines contracted by the aforementioned company.
Consequently, the airline highlighted its inability to meet commitments made with their clients and indicated possible solutions for those affected. For Argentines who should return to the country, they indicated that they will be able to do so from companies that have air connections between both nations (subject to seat availability), while the rest will be able to receive 100% of the air ticket refund.
Cubana de Aviación sent him a document letter this week to YPF, with whom he had a business relationship since 2018 which was consolidated during the administration of Alberto Fernández and after the CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit held in the country in 2023, when it was agreed to continue with the fuel loading service beyond the blockade imposed by USA and under political endorsement of the force that governed Argentina at that time.
In this sense, in the notice sent on April 23 of this year, the airline asked the national company resume and guarantee the provision of servicescomply with the obligations derived from the contract and restore the fuel supply. Until now, YPF was the only one that loaded gasoline onto Cuban planes. The rest of the private companies always refused to do so.
However, according to sources in the sector, Cubana knew since March that Yacimientos Petrolófilos Fiscales would not sell it more fuel. At that time, the airline quickly echoed the company’s decision and, in its response, explained that cutting the supply from one day to the next would bring complications, given that there were Argentine flights scheduled for the following days.
For this reason, YPF decided to set a deadline to complete the action. The agreed date was April 10, emphasizing that after that day they would no longer be sold any more aviation gasoline, as happened. But despite the warning, the conflict escalated.
