China adds extra Havana-Beijing flight as Cuba fuel crisis strands travellers
China arranged a supplementary Air China flight from Havana to Beijing after US sanctions deepened Cuba's fuel crisis, forcing airlines to suspend flights. The Chinese embassy cited technical reasons for schedule changes but did not mention the oil crisis.
China has organised a rare supplementary flight out of Cuba's capital Havana for passengers unable to leave the island, as US sanctions deepen a domestic oil crisis and international airlines suspend flights due to refuelling issues.
The Chinese embassy in Cuba said in a statement on Monday that a "replacement" flight for Air China flight CA866 from Havana to Beijing was added, designated CA590. The statement said that due to "technical reasons" the schedule for flight CA866 had changed frequently recently and some flights had been cancelled. It did not refer to Cuba's oil crisis.
Flight CA590 was scheduled to depart at 22:30 on October 19, the statement said. The preceding flight, CA589, had arrived in Havana, according to records from popular Chinese flight information app Umetrip. CA590 had not departed Havana yet, according to Umetrip.
The US has piled pressure on Cuba's government, including a nine-month de facto fuel blockade and reinforced sanctions that have led to an unprecedented economic crisis on the island.
China's foreign ministry referred to other government departments in response to Reuters questions. China's aviation regulator and Air China did not immediately respond to requests for comment.