The Colombian airline Aviancawho had scheduled his return to Cuba for July of this year, reported on Friday, June 14, that the start of the Bogotá-Havana route will be postponed “due to operational issues.”
In the statement sent to the digital portal diodecuba.com, the company does not specify a new start date for this route.
Avianca recommends customers who had already purchased tickets request the corresponding refund through its website www.avianca.com, the airline’s mobile application or directly with their travel agencies.
According to the specialized site Aviation Club Center, “this delay has generated some uncertainty among passengers. The airline has not specified a new start date for this route, which underlines the importance of resolving operational issues before offering reliable service.” . Avianca also asked customers to keep their contact information updated when booking to ensure effective communication in case of future changes or updates on the status of flights.
Last April, the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, had announced that Avianca would resume its flights to Cuba after four years without operating the route that connects Havana with Bogotá. The minister had anticipated that Avianca’s arrival on Cuban soil was scheduled for July, with four weekly frequencies.
Avianca began flying to Cuba in 2012, with two weekly flights. Eight years later, on January 15, 2020, the airline announced the suspension of its operations due to possible US sanctions.
This week, the international consulting firm ForwardKeys reported that Cuba received 4% more tourists in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023, although air capacity decreased by 1%. According to the figures, the Island’s recovery continues to be one of the slowest in the Caribbean, along with destinations such as Saint Martin (-62%), Haiti (-52%), Suriname (-4%) and Guadeloupe (-1% ). In contrast, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands (+69%), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (+40%), Belize (+30%) and Curacao (+24%) lead the regional table.
Among Cuba’s traditional competitors, Puerto Rico grew 18% in the first half, with an increase in air capacity of 15%; Dominican Republic 12% in tourists and 14% in air capacity; and Cancún 7% in both indicators.
The study also highlighted that “Colombian visitors are the main factor in Cuba’s recovery, with arrivals soaring by +221% compared to the same period in 2023.”
#Cuba
