Argentine jet fuel suppliers in Buenos Aires refused to serve Cuban state airline Cubana this week, citing concerns over U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba, the Havana-based carrier said late Wednesday, prompting a flurry of unexpected flight cancellations.
Cubana de Aviacion SA, which operates flights within Cuba and to various cities abroad, said it canceled flights on April 23 and 24, as well as other flights contracted with partner airlines, forcing the company to revalidate tickets or issue refunds .
“This decision is due to the refusal of aviation fuel supply companies in the Republic of Argentina to provide services to the airline, citing the provisions of the embargo measures of the United States against Cuba,” the airline said in a brief statement.
Argentina’s foreign ministry and the presidency’s office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.
The US trade embargo against Cuba was put in place after Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.
The web of US laws and regulations complicates financial transactions and the acquisition of goods and services by the Cuban government, while raising risks for foreign companies doing business with Cuba.
Cubana’s long-standing flights between Havana and Buenos Aires have been largely unhindered despite sanctions under the administration of Argentina’s leftist former president Alberto Fernandez, who maintained close ties to Cuba.
But Argentina’s new president, Javier Millay, a far-right libertarian who took office on Dec. 10 has declared his pro-American views and taken a cooler stance toward leftist trading partners in the region and overseas, including Brazil and China.
Cuba has remained largely silent on Millay’s selection.
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