China adds extra Havana flight as Cuba fuel crisis strands travellers

 China organised a rare supplementary flight out of Cuba's capital Havana for passengers who have been 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 601111.SS flight CA866 from Havana to Beijing was added, flight CA590.

• The statement said 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 is scheduled to depart at 2230 on October 19, the statement said.

• CA589, the preceding flight for CA590, 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.

Reuters

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