MIAMI, United States. — The Mexican airline Viva Aerobús suspended flights to Managua from Havana and Santa Clara, reported this Friday the Travel Portal agency, specialized in the sale of national and international air tickets to and from Cancun.
In a brief note published in social media On April 6, Travel Portal had announced that the cessation of Viva Aerobús operations to the Nicaraguan capital would take effect as of today. However, it was not until yesterday that the agency offered details about the suspension.
“Unfortunately, as of tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, we will no longer operate flights to Managua from any of the routes that we currently fly,” the agency specified in its account. Facebook.
Viva Aerobús operated regular flights to Managua from Havana and Santa Clara, in both cases with a stopover in Cancun.
Travel Portal noted passengers with paid tickets would get a 100% refund of the cost of the ticket.
“All passengers with paid tickets from April 10 onwards will be 100% reimbursed. However, those who have had their tickets confirmed on previous dates and did not show up for their original flight for whatever reasons they may have, their tickets are non-refundable.”
The agency warned its clients that “due to the high volume of passengers,” refunds could take up to 21 days. However, at no time did he offer explanations about Viva Aerobús’ decision to suspend flights between Cuba and Nicaragua.
Vagamundos, a Mexican travel and services agency oriented towards the Cuban public, also confirmed the cancellation of flights.
“We tell you that this decision is outside the agency and unfortunately it affects us all. At the moment, we do not have more information about it. We ask for your understanding on this matter,” the agency told its clients.
After the news was released, CubaNet tried, through different means, to communicate with Viva Aerobús representatives to collect details about the suspension of flights. However, it proved impossible to contact airline personnel.
In social networks, the reaction of the Cubans who missed their flights was immediate.
“OMG! What is this? I was flying on the 16th and they do this to me without any explanation. What a great lack of respect. You don’t do that to anyone,” Yoandy Albolaez, a young man from Havana, commented on Facebook.
“It is a lack of respect. How can they do that with so few days notice? It is lost in hotel reservations and in many other things and that money, who returns it? What kind of disrespect from this company! I don’t see any seriousness, really (…) without giving any explanation, only that they are not going to operate anymore and that they are going to return the money. And the other money that was lost, what ball?” questioned Dami Sánchez, from Matanzas.
For its part, Travel Portal made it clear that the agency had no responsibility for the suspension of flights.
“We are really sorry for the inconvenience. We know how frustrating it can be, but believe us, it is something totally out of our hands,” the agency replied in response to comments made by several of the Cubans who missed their flights.
Viva Aerobus joined Copa Airlines in the list of companies that canceled Cuba-Nicaragua flights. In February, the Panamanian airline assured a CubaNet that it would stop operating the route, but that it would fulfill its commitment to passengers who had already bought their tickets.
“The restriction is presented by the governments of Central America, which do not intend the entry of flights from Cuba,” explained a Copa Airlines representative to this newspaper.
Despite the cancellations of both airlines, flights between the two countries will continue, at least during the month of April, by the companies Conviasa and Aruba Airlines, according to the schedule of the Cuban Airport and Airport Services Company.
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