Cayman Airways flight leaves Havana without passengers due to Jamaican immigration
On the afternoon of Friday January 28, 2022, Cayman Airways was notified by Jamaican Immigration authorities that they could not guarantee that some 86 passengers travelling from Havana, Cuba (with onward connections to KX606 to Kingston and subsequent connections from Kingston to Nicaragua) would be allowed to land in Kingston, Jamaica despite their tickets and itineraries being in order.
As a result of this notification, flight KX833 from Havana to Grand Cayman, was delayed while a resolution with the Jamaican authorities was sought. When it became apparent that a timely resolution was not forthcoming, the airline determined it would be unable to transport the 86 passengers on today’s flight.
The Cuban authorities, however, took issue with Cayman Airways denying boarding to the 86 passengers and, in turn, would not allow the remaining passengers to board. With the Cayman Airways flight crew in Havana approaching their duty time limitations, and with the aircraft needed back in Grand Cayman for subsequent flights, the airline was eventually forced to cancel today’s KX833 flight, and ferry the aircraft back to Grand Cayman from Havana without passengers.
As a result of this situation with flight KX833 and the delay in the aircraft returning to Grand Cayman, two other flight rotations on Friday evening encountered minor delays.
A formal resolution to the matter remains uncertain at this time, but until Cayman Airways receives confirmation from Jamaican Immigration authorities that passengers will be allowed to land in Jamaica when originating in Cuba with onward connections to Nicaragua, the airline has no choice but to restrict travel between Havana and Kingston for those passengers (with onward connections from Kingston to Nicaragua). Passengers from Havana, who were not travelling to Jamaica, but were nonetheless affected by today’s cancelled flight, are being accommodated and will travel to Grand Cayman on the next available flight.
Cayman Airways regrets any inconvenience this situation has caused for our valued passengers
