Cubana Cancels Flights to Argentina Due to Denied Fuel Services Amid US Trade Embargo

Cubana, Cuba’s state-owned airline, has announced the cancellation of its flights to Argentina after local fuel suppliers refused to refuel its aircraft. The refusal is linked to the US-imposed trade embargo against Cuba, directly affecting the airline’s scheduled operations.

The impacted flights include CU360 from Havana International to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini and CU361 from Buenos Aires to Cayo Coco, which were planned for April 23 and 24, 2024. The airline stated that this action by fuel suppliers extends to other carriers contracted by Cubana to assist in transferring the affected passengers, thereby hindering the airline’s ability to fulfill its commitments.

The last occurrences of flights CU360 and CU361 were recorded on March 26 and 27, 2024, utilizing an A340-300 aircraft, EC-MQM (msn 399), wet-leased from Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas. Data from Flightradar24 ADS-B confirms these were the most recent flights prior to the cancellations.

This incident coincides with heightened diplomatic tensions in the region, notably between Argentina and Venezuela. The government of Argentina, under President Javier Milei, has faced criticism from Venezuela following Argentina’s involvement in the dismantling and delivery of a seized Emtrasur Cargo B747-300M to the United States Department of Justice. In a retaliatory move, Venezuela has prohibited all aircraft registered in Argentina from entering its airspace.

Cubana’s flight cancellations to Argentina highlight the broader geopolitical challenges and the impact of international sanctions on commercial aviation, particularly affecting airlines operating under the constraints of US embargoes.