Cubana de Aviación, Cuba’s national airline, has resumed operations of the Il-96-300 widebody long-haul aircraft registered CU-T1250. The aircraft underwent a comprehensive overhaul at the Minsk Aircraft Repair Plant and arrived at José Martí International Airport (HAV) in Havana on the night of October 11–12, 2025, according to Air Data News.
The aircraft (serial number 015) first flew on July 6, 2005. Built specifically for Cubana, it is one of four Il-96 aircraft produced for the Cuban market. After initial storage in Havana, the aircraft was stationed in Minsk from 2022 to 2025. On October 11, 2025, CU-T1250 departed Minsk, with stopovers in Saint Petersburg and Reykjavik, before completing a nearly nine-hour transatlantic flight to Havana. It landed at José Martí International Airport at 6:48 p.m. local time on October 12.
Currently, Cubana formally lists 17 aircraft in its fleet, but only four are confirmed operational. The fleet mainly consists of four Il-96-300s (one actively flying), several Tu-204s (mostly inactive), Antonov An-158s (largely grounded), and ATR-42/72 turboprops. Fleet limitations stem from spare parts shortages due to U.S. sanctions, fuel and maintenance restrictions, and financial constraints affecting repairs and aircraft procurement.
U.S. sanctions continue to impact Cuban aviation. Third-country service providers avoid servicing Cuban aircraft for fear of secondary sanctions. This has forced Cubana to partner with countries that maintain aviation cooperation with Russia and Belarus, including the Minsk Aircraft Repair Plant, which performed CU-T1250’s overhaul.
The return of the Il-96-300 marks the first phase of restoring international operations. The aircraft is expected to serve long-haul routes to Europe, Russia, and Latin America, including Havana–Moscow, Havana–Caracas, Havana–Mexico City, and Havana–Madrid. For regional and domestic services, Cuba is exploring modern Russian aircraft such as the MC-21, SJ-100, and Il-114-300, which could replace aging Tu-204s and An-158s while reducing reliance on Western suppliers.
This development also carries geopolitical and symbolic significance, highlighting the resilience of Russian–Cuban cooperation in aviation. Plans include deepening collaboration under transport and technical agreements, encompassing spare parts supply, scheduled maintenance, and flight crew training.
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