Among those affected are many Cubans planning to arrive in Nicaragua and then head to the U.S. border, including a flight from Havana to Bogota, followed by another to San Salvador and finally to Managua.
According to Martí Noticias, a group of people gathered at the José Martí airport on Monday morning demanding explanations for the unexpected announcement. Many of them, who planned to continue on to Nicaragua, expressed their frustration.
For example, Yenei Luisa Martínez, a resident of Las Tunas, commented: “We sold everything. They cannot let us stay in Cuba.”
The news spread quickly on social media. One user made a live broadcast from the airport, denouncing Wingo’s lack of information, which generated hundreds of comments from other Cubans in the same situation. So far, Wingo has not issued a public statement on the issue.
Colombian Embassy in Cuba speaks out
However, the Colombian embassy in Havana issued a clarifying note, reiterating that Colombia does NOT require a transit visa for Cubans who make a stopover at the Bogotá international airport, as long as it is less than 24 hours.
Since February 2022, Cubans have been included in the list of countries that require a transit visa to pass through Colombia, just at a time when many were using Colombian territory as a stepping stone on their way to the southern border of the United States.
In addition to Cuba, 40 other countries require a type V visa for transit stops on international flights, which must be processed at Colombian consulates.
Suspension of Avianca flights between Cuba and Colombia
In other related news, last week Avianca announced the suspension of its flights between Colombia and Cuba. Direct flights between Bogotá and Havana, which were scheduled to resume following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been postponed. Passengers who have already purchased tickets can request a refund.
Avianca argued that the postponement is due to the need to guarantee a high-quality service and comply with operational standards, although it has not given a new date for the resumption of flights. This situation has generated uncertainty and is a blow to the Cuban regime, as the tourism sector is trying to recover from the ravages of the pandemic.
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