Additional flight for stranded passengers

A national Chinese company arranged an extra flight from Havana on October 19 to help passengers stuck due to repeated flight cancellations. The flight, which includes a stop in Nassau before heading to Madrid and Beijing, highlights the challenges faced by airlines due to a fuel shortage in Cuba.

Detour through the Bahamas

The flight, operated by Air China as CA590, was aimed at retrieving passengers affected by the cancellation of their regular route between Havana, Madrid, and Beijing. The South China Morning Post reported that several dozen people were impacted by the ongoing cancellations, with the Chinese embassy announcing limited seats on the special flight.

Flight details and timeline

A Boeing 787-9 from Havana to Madrid via Nassau departed on Monday evening. According to FlightAware, the plane landed in Nassau at 11:25 p.m. local time on October 19, then continued to Madrid and eventually to Beijing. This flight is specifically for affected passengers and not a general evacuation of Chinese citizens.

Refueling stop in Nassau

The stop in Nassau is not new. As early as March, Air China had introduced a refueling stop on the Havana–Madrid route to avoid the fuel shortage in Cuba. This has turned a direct transatlantic flight into a two-leg journey.

Infrastructure and runway work

A traveler whose flight was canceled on October 10 said Air China staff mentioned runway work in Nassau. However, neither the company nor the embassy has linked this construction to the flight cancellations. The Lynden-Pindling airport confirmed that runway 14/32 is undergoing resurfacing, with a planned partial reopening.

Route and fifth freedom rights

The Beijing-Capital–Madrid–Havana route, which resumed on May 17, 2024, allows Air China to transport passengers between Spain and Cuba using "fifth freedom" rights. This lets airlines operate a segment between two foreign countries as an extension of a route that includes their home country.

Cuban travelers and service issues

This route is especially important for Cubans living in Spain, who often prefer Air China for its lower fares compared to Air Europa. However, travelers have described long waits, lack of information, and difficulties in getting refunds or compensation at Madrid-Barajas airport.

Fuel shortage impacts international links

The shortage of jet fuel is reducing international connections with Cuba. Air China remains one of the few foreign carriers maintaining a link, despite other airlines like Air Canada and Air France suspending their services. The situation has left the Cuban aviation network significantly weakened.