Cubana de Aviación has announced a second extra flight between Havana and Nueva Gerona, scheduled for Thursday, July 9. The airline reiterated that bookings must be done in person due to the country's ongoing energy crisis.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the airline stated that the flight will operate on the Havana–Nueva Gerona–Havana route (HAV-GER-HAV), departing at 12:00 p.m. from Terminal 1 of José Martí International Airport.
Passengers interested in securing a reservation must visit Terminal 1 in Havana or Cubana de Aviación's offices in the Isla de la Juventud in person.
"Due to the current energy challenges, reservations for this specific operation cannot be made through other means," the state-owned company clarified.
This marks the second consecutive time Cubana de Aviación has organized an extraordinary flight under these same conditions.
On Tuesday, July 7, the airline announced another special flight, which also departed at noon and required in-person reservations, following the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) on Monday, July 6.
The electrical crisis has disrupted the airline's computer and communication systems, necessitating manual reservation processing and complicating passenger arrangements.
Impact on Isla de la Juventud
The measure comes at a particularly challenging time for the Isla de la Juventud, one of the areas hardest hit by the energy crisis.
In recent weeks, residents have reported power outages lasting up to 22 hours a day, with electricity available for only two hours daily during certain days in July. Additionally, local generation capacity fell to 6 MW in May, significantly below the 48 MW installed capacity.
The National Electric System's collapse on July 6 further worsened the situation. On that day, Cuba experienced its seventh total system blackout in 18 months and the third of 2026, following the shutdown of Unit 6 at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey.
The outage left much of the country without power and highlighted the limitations of the generation system, hindered by fuel shortages and equipment malfunctions at several plants.
Regular and Additional Flights
Cubana de Aviación is currently the sole airline offering regular domestic flights between Havana and the Isla de la Juventud.
The airline resumed its twice-weekly flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays in February of this year, after a suspension caused by technical issues with its fleet.
The introduction of additional flights aims to meet passenger demand amid ongoing operational challenges stemming from the energy crisis.
FAQs about Cubana de Aviación's Special Flights
Why are reservations only available in person?
Reservations must be made in person due to disruptions in electronic systems caused by the ongoing energy crisis.
What challenges is the Isla de la Juventud facing?
The Isla de la Juventud has been experiencing frequent and prolonged power outages, with residents often receiving only a few hours of electricity per day.
How often does Cubana de Aviación fly to the Isla de la Juventud?
Cubana de Aviación operates regular flights twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between Havana and the Isla de la Juventud.