MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban state chain Gaviota Hoteles is promoting new “air connections through third countries” on social networks to travel from Canada to Havana, with stops in Miami, Mexico City or Panama, at a time when Canadian airlines have suspended their services to Cuba due to the shortage of fuel for planes on the Island.
On FacebookGaviota Hoteles published: “From Canada to Havana, your trip begins with new air connections through third countries. Miami, Mexico City or Panama… three routes, the same destination: discover the magic of Cuba.”
The main reason for this redesign of routes is explained by the Government of Canada itself in its official travel notice about Cuba. On that page, Ottawa warns that non-essential travel should be avoided “due to worsening shortages of fuel, electricity and basic goods,” adding that, as a result, “all Canadian airlines have suspended service to Cuba for upcoming trips.”
In the same note, the Canadian Government indicates that the airlines will facilitate the return of their clients who are already on the Island and that, for those who need to leave or arrive, “commercial flights continue to be available through international airlines.”
Air Canada canceled all flights to Cuba after Cuban authorities warned that the country was running out of jet fuel. Other airlines have applied contingency measures, including technical stops for resupply in third countries, a practice that in previous crises had already included stopovers in nearby destinations such as Mexico or other points in the Caribbean.
Gaviota is the main tourism company of the business conglomerate of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) of Cuba, GAESA. In the last decade, the company went from being a secondary player to becoming the largest hotel group in Cuba, with 121 hotels, 20 marinas, its own transportation company, a travel agency and a logistics and supply company. In just 10 years, it more than doubled its hotel portfolio.
