Cubana´s Il-96 fleet has had a very unstable usage during the last months. CU-T1250 was flown to Moscow and onwards to the Ilyushin factory in Voronezh for service on January 26. this year and have not been seen since then.
This makes the ex Aeroflot Il-96, CU-T1717, the only active Il-96 in Cubanas fleet. This aircraft however was last seen flying on on May 15. from EZE to HAV via CCC and since that day it has not been registered on Flightradar24.
Anyone who knows what happens to the Il-96´s of Cubana?
One can see that flights are scheduled with Il-96, but they are not operated. It would be sad if these rare birds disappeared from the caribbean skies.

knutnordlid wrote:

Cubana´s Il-96 fleet has had a very unstable usage during the last months. CU-T1250 was flown to Moscow and onwards to the Ilyushin factory in Voronezh for service on January 26. this year and have not been seen since then.
This makes the ex Aeroflot Il-96, CU-T1717, the only active Il-96 in Cubanas fleet. This aircraft however was last seen flying on on May 15. from EZE to HAV via CCC and since that day it has not been registered on Flightradar24.
Anyone who knows what happens to the Il-96´s of Cubana?
One can see that flights are scheduled with Il-96, but they are not operated. It would be sad if these rare birds disappeared from the caribbean skies.

CUT1250 is likely at Voronezh for heavy mx.
CUT1251 is a VIP aircraft.
CUT1254 hasn't flown since 2012.

The IL96 is expensive to operate, and Cubana probably don't have a lot of money.

On another note, Cubana also only have one of six An-158 flying due to a lack of spare parts from the factory in Ukraine.

I will raise this post to see if anyone has any knowledge of the Cubana fleet.
The Il-96 has still not been seen in the air since May 15. I also see that their Tu-204 has not flown since May 14!
When searching the net I can not find any news, but I wonder if they may have grounded the Ilyushin and Tupplev fleets for good or if there are som issues with the rent!?
It is also strange that CU-T1250 is not back from Russia after maintenance.

Dahlgardo wrote:

knutnordlid wrote:

Cubana´s Il-96 fleet has had a very unstable usage during the last months. CU-T1250 was flown to Moscow and onwards to the Ilyushin factory in Voronezh for service on January 26. this year and have not been seen since then.
This makes the ex Aeroflot Il-96, CU-T1717, the only active Il-96 in Cubanas fleet. This aircraft however was last seen flying on on May 15. from EZE to HAV via CCC and since that day it has not been registered on Flightradar24.
Anyone who knows what happens to the Il-96´s of Cubana?
One can see that flights are scheduled with Il-96, but they are not operated. It would be sad if these rare birds disappeared from the caribbean skies.

CUT1250 is likely at Voronezh for heavy mx.
CUT1251 is a VIP aircraft.
CUT1254 hasn't flown since 2012.

The IL96 is expensive to operate, and Cubana probably don't have a lot of money.

On another note, Cubana also only have one of six An-158 flying due to a lack of spare parts from the factory in Ukraine.

According to Flight Global, the entire AN-158 fleet is grounded for that reason.

Cubana continues to struggle with its long haul fleet. It is now leasing a Plus Ultra A340-300 EC-MFA, to operate 2 weekly rotations, CU444/5 HAV-ORY-SCU-HAV and CU360/1 HAV-EZE-CCC-HAV. A/C is on its way to EZE now.

Wondering what happened to the only active IL96 they had, CU-T-1717, the ex SU one?

The only thing I could find is this picture showing CU-T1250 parked at Voronezh (covered in snow):
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/ ... hin-il-96/

crownvic wrote:

Dahlgardo wrote:

knutnordlid wrote:

Cubana´s Il-96 fleet has had a very unstable usage during the last months. CU-T1250 was flown to Moscow and onwards to the Ilyushin factory in Voronezh for service on January 26. this year and have not been seen since then.
This makes the ex Aeroflot Il-96, CU-T1717, the only active Il-96 in Cubanas fleet. This aircraft however was last seen flying on on May 15. from EZE to HAV via CCC and since that day it has not been registered on Flightradar24.
Anyone who knows what happens to the Il-96´s of Cubana?
One can see that flights are scheduled with Il-96, but they are not operated. It would be sad if these rare birds disappeared from the caribbean skies.

CUT1250 is likely at Voronezh for heavy mx.
CUT1251 is a VIP aircraft.
CUT1254 hasn't flown since 2012.

The IL96 is expensive to operate, and Cubana probably don't have a lot of money.

On another note, Cubana also only have one of six An-158 flying due to a lack of spare parts from the factory in Ukraine.

According to Flight Global, the entire AN-158 fleet is grounded for that reason.

They also produce AN-148 in Russia, couldn't Cubana get some from Russia?

CU-T1251 en route to Paris now CU444

With a slightly revised colour scheme

mark1484 wrote:

With a slightly revised colour scheme

Wasn't it @Voronezh for an overhaul?

In any case, just as a footnote, CU is still operating to EZE with Plus Ultra's EC-MFA. I believe EZE, ORY and MAD are the only long haul routes that CU is presently flying. Maybe GRU as well? Mike Foxtrot Alpha arrived @EZE this morning, in true CU fashion, over 8 hours late.

dcajet wrote:

mark1484 wrote:

With a slightly revised colour scheme

Wasn't it @Voronezh for an overhaul?

In any case, just as a footnote, CU is still operating to EZE with Plus Ultra's EC-MFA. I believe EZE, ORY and MAD are the only long haul routes that CU is presently flying. Maybe GRU as well? Mike Foxtrot Alpha arrived @EZE this morning, in true CU fashion, over 8 hours late.

I think T1250 was rumoured to be at Voronezh. It hasn't been seen on Flightradar for a while either has the ex Aeroflot machine for that matter.

mark1484 wrote:

dcajet wrote:

mark1484 wrote:

With a slightly revised colour scheme

Wasn't it @Voronezh for an overhaul?

I think T1250 was rumoured to be at Voronezh. It hasn't been seen on Flightradar for a while either has the ex Aeroflot machine for that matter.

That is correct - it is CU-T1250 that was flown to Woronezh and probably still stays there for service.
Anyway, it is nice seeing the Il-96 operating again and I think the new color scheme is an improvement.
Hopefully -T1250 will return after beeing worked on in Russia and probably -T1717 is also in for some kind of service and will return to the skies again

With CU-T1251 back in service, fresh from an overhaul at Voronezh, Cubana has adopted a revised livery:

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/785 ... -il-96-300

What is the status of the rest of CU'S fleet? Their Antonov's were rumored to be having issues

What is the chance of Cubana getting some western build aircraft with recently stabilized relations with the US? I admit I don´t know much about cuban forreign affairs but if Iran Air can get new airplanes, I wonder if Cubana can get some too.

GianiDC wrote:

What is the chance of Cubana getting some western build aircraft with recently stabilized relations with the US? I admit I don´t know much about cuban forreign affairs but if Iran Air can get new airplanes, I wonder if Cubana can get some too.

I don't really see them getting anything for the time being. Maybe some ATRs or some really cheap second-hand A320s, but otherwise no. Trump is too big a wildcard for the time being, and unlike Iran, Cuba just isn't a very big market for aircraft to begin with.

Didn't they have ATRs some time ago by any chance?

thepinkmachine wrote:

Didn't they have ATRs some time ago by any chance?

Still do, according to planespotters.net. ATRs have the added advantage of not really containing any major US built components, which is probably why you see them in places like Cuba and Iran.

Wonder if CU might order the SSJ?

Well the Castro's should be gone. I wonder if Cuba can afford a large purchase of Aircraft of any kind.

I am actually hoping to see CU keep operating the IL96 and the An158...they are very sturdy and safe planes... and they add a bit of flavor to an otherwise very boring sky these days....

CU-T1250 has had a test flight today after heavy maintenance and upgrades. Link below to the news article (in Russian).

http://vestivrn.ru/novosti/kubinskiy-il ... 9-25_19-15

Dahlgardo wrote:

knutnordlid wrote:

Cubana´s Il-96 fleet has had a very unstable usage during the last months. CU-T1250 was flown to Moscow and onwards to the Ilyushin factory in Voronezh for service on January 26. this year and have not been seen since then.
This makes the ex Aeroflot Il-96, CU-T1717, the only active Il-96 in Cubanas fleet. This aircraft however was last seen flying on on May 15. from EZE to HAV via CCC and since that day it has not been registered on Flightradar24.
Anyone who knows what happens to the Il-96´s of Cubana?
One can see that flights are scheduled with Il-96, but they are not operated. It would be sad if these rare birds disappeared from the caribbean skies.

CUT1250 is likely at Voronezh for heavy mx.
CUT1251 is a VIP aircraft.
CUT1254 hasn't flown since 2012.

The IL96 is expensive to operate, and Cubana probably don't have a lot of money.

On another note, Cubana also only have one of six An-158 flying due to a lack of spare parts from the factory in Ukraine.

Thanks! What about CU-T1254. Why keeping a non-flying bird for five years? Does anyone know the issue?

Hey guys,

According to this article, all of four Il-96-300 operated by CU may soon return to service. This include CU-T1250 that is still in VASO for test flights and even CU-T1254, line number 0017, that hasn't been flying for many years.

All An-158 may also soon all be flying thanks to a deal reached between CU and VASO.

I hope CU-T1717 will also be repaited and wear that new livery!

link: https://www.rusaviainsider.com/russian- ... n-carrier/

SR380 wrote:

Hey guys,

According to this article, all of four Il-96-300 operated by CU may soon return to service. This include CU-T1250 that is still in VASO for test flights and even CU-T1254, line number 0017, that hasn't been flying for many years.

All An-158 may also soon all be flying thanks to a deal reached between CU and VASO.

I hope CU-T1717 will also be repaited and wear that new livery!

link: https://www.rusaviainsider.com/russian- ... n-carrier/

Even though CU-T-1251 has been back in service for a few weeks now, CU continues to struggle with its long haul schedule. For the last two weeks, its weekly EZE service has been flown with the A320s the airline leases from Lithuania's Avion Express, with a tech stop at MAO. Given the smaller capacity of the A320, two flights instead of the usual one are flown; 24/36 hour delays are not uncommon. It would also appear that the airline has terminated the wet lease of Plus Ultra's A340 that was flying the weekly EZE service.

CU is supposed to introduce a second weekly frequency to Buenos Aires right in time for the peak summer season in Argentina; it'll better get more IL-96s back in service. or risk continuing with its abysmal operational record.

Today's CUB444 to Paris was cancelled.
2 AN158 seem active today though.

It appears that Cubana is still wet leasing Plus Ultra's A340 EC-MFB after all. It operated CU360/1 today @ EZE, with a 14 minute delay on the inbound back to HAV via HOG. That must be a record in on time departures for CU @ EZE!

The IL-96s continue to be nowhere in sight... even after the overhaul.

By the way. Some years ago we've heard that they might be considering the longer version now dubbed the Il-96-400, which seems to be still on the pipeline at UAC according to this articles:

https://centreforaviation.com/news/-------718655

What are your thoughts?

Does anyone know if CU-T1717 will also be wearing the new livery any time soon?

SR380 wrote:

By the way. Some years ago we've heard that they might be considering the longer version now dubbed the Il-96-400, which seems to be still on the pipeline at UAC according to this articles:

https://centreforaviation.com/news/-------718655

What are your thoughts?

Does anyone know if CU-T1717 will also be wearing the new livery any time soon?

Ohh gawd..... I'd pay out of my own pocket to see that amazing beast flying...Ahhh...the IL-96-400 would be incredible.. but, no..I just don't think this is going to happen.. Heck, I'd be happy enough to see CU FLY REGULARLY their entire IL-96 fleet!!!

Most if not all the network could be operated with SU100 with exception to Longhaul.

mark1484 wrote:

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/60150-cubana-seeks-to-reactivate-il-96-fleet

Excellent, thanks.

xdlx wrote:

Most if not all the network could be operated with SU100 with exception to Longhaul.

Indeed, but would it be able to pass the US embargo test? Is there a good portion of US components on the Superjet?

dcajet wrote:

mark1484 wrote:

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/60150-cubana-seeks-to-reactivate-il-96-fleet

Excellent, thanks.

xdlx wrote:

Most if not all the network could be operated with SU100 with exception to Longhaul.

Indeed, but would it be able to pass the US embargo test? Is there a good portion of US components on the Superjet?

I think the main goal for Cubana should be to get their fleet back up and running before buying new jets. The AN158s are not old and can do a good job for Cubana so long as they have the service back up. 3 have come back on line so progress is being made.
The same applies for the IL96s, apart from the ex Aeroflot machine they are nowhere near the end of thier lives.

CU-T-1251 did find its way into service last week, but not to carry fare paying passengers.

Rather, on Oct 3rd it positioned from HAV to CCS to fly Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro to Moscow Vnukovo VNO, for a visit to Vladimir Putin using call sign FAV001. Two days later it took Maduro to Minsk. Here she is at Minsk on Oct 5th.

https://russianplanes.net/id219172

Wow. That is an OUTSTANDING livery!

Nothing to do with the topic, but why is Maduro keeps on flying on CU Il-96? He could for sure afford one for is own?

SR380 wrote:

Nothing to do with the topic, but why is Maduro keeps on flying on CU Il-96? He could for sure afford one for is own?

Because Venezuela is a de-facto colony of Cuba. The president, the thief-in-chief and the one who pulls the strings, is Raúl Castro, and Maduro is a marionette serving at the pleasure of the president.

SR380 wrote:

Nothing to do with the topic, but why is Maduro keeps on flying on CU Il-96? He could for sure afford one for is own?

Well, Chavez, back in the day of $100/barrel got a brand new A319 business jet that he used extensively until his death. Pretty much after his passing the A319 disappeared. Not sure what happened to it.

In parallel to the A319, Conviasa also got its hands on an A342, ex AF, ex UX that was used for flights to EZE, MAD and the infamous axis of evil flight to Damascus and Tehran. Around the same time the A319 vanished, the A342 was reported to be impounded at Airbus (where it was sent for maintenance) for lack of payment. I seem to remember it eventually found its way back to CCS, but AFAIK it was never used again on scheduled services, so it must be rotting away G-d only knows where.

So there you have it. Planes, they used to own. What happened to them is another chapter of that book called "The Fleecing of Venezuela".

dcajet wrote:

SR380 wrote:

Nothing to do with the topic, but why is Maduro keeps on flying on CU Il-96? He could for sure afford one for is own?

Well, Chavez, back in the day of $100/barrel got a brand new A319 business jet that he used extensively until his death. Pretty much after his passing the A319 disappeared. Not sure what happened to it.

In parallel to the A319, Conviasa also got its hands on an A342, ex AF, ex UX that was used for flights to EZE, MAD and the infamous axis of evil flight to Damascus and Tehran. Around the same time the A319 vanished, the A342 was reported to be impounded at Airbus (where it was sent for maintenance) for lack of payment. I seem to remember it eventually found its way back to CCS, but AFAIK it was never used again on scheduled services, so it must be rotting away G-d only knows where.

So there you have it. Planes, they used to own. What happened to them is another chapter of that book called "The Fleecing of Venezuela".

The 342 is rotting away outside the Conviasa hangars (that also double as the company's HQ...that says everything about them, really) at CCS. The 319 is in use as presidential transport, used almost every weekend for Nico's trips to Havana to receive next week's orders (it is said Maduro is paranoid about eavesdropping from "Presiden Trom", so insists on personal meetings with Castro). Of course the 319 can't make it CCS-ALG and ESB-CCS (I believe he went CCS-ALG-MOW-MSQ-ESB-CCS), hence the CU IL9 was borrowed. That's the least the Cubans can do...

MalevTU134 wrote:

dcajet wrote:

SR380 wrote:

Nothing to do with the topic, but why is Maduro keeps on flying on CU Il-96? He could for sure afford one for is own?

Well, Chavez, back in the day of $100/barrel got a brand new A319 business jet that he used extensively until his death. Pretty much after his passing the A319 disappeared. Not sure what happened to it.

In parallel to the A319, Conviasa also got its hands on an A342, ex AF, ex UX that was used for flights to EZE, MAD and the infamous axis of evil flight to Damascus and Tehran. Around the same time the A319 vanished, the A342 was reported to be impounded at Airbus (where it was sent for maintenance) for lack of payment. I seem to remember it eventually found its way back to CCS, but AFAIK it was never used again on scheduled services, so it must be rotting away G-d only knows where.

So there you have it. Planes, they used to own. What happened to them is another chapter of that book called "The Fleecing of Venezuela".

The 342 is rotting away outside the Conviasa hangars (that also double as the company's HQ...that says everything about them, really) at CCS. The 319 is in use as presidential transport, used almost every weekend for Nico's trips to Havana to receive next week's orders (it is said Maduro is paranoid about eavesdropping from "Presiden Trom", so insists on personal meetings with Castro). Of course the 319 can't make it CCS-ALG and ESB-CCS (I believe he went CCS-ALG-MOW-MSQ-ESB-CCS), hence the CU IL9 was borrowed. That's the least the Cubans can do...

Not sure if this is true or not, but given the actors it is very plausible. Since before Chavez's death, he had become paranoid about the loyalty of the Bolivarian Air Force pilots that flew the A319. so he started avoiding it and using the Cubana's planes as his paranoia dictated. This became worse during his fight with cancer, when he was shuttling back and forth between CCS and HAV to seek medical treatment. Maduro has, apparently, taken on the same form of paranoia. I remember reading this around 2013, on Madrid's El Pais, if memory serves.

Nothing like a trip to the Old Continent to rekindle old friendships with democrats such as Putin, Lukashenko and Erdogan. Add Maduro and what a combo.... Scary.

After more than a year's absence, CU-T-1251 is back in regular, scheduled service.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/cu-t1251

And on time to boot!

It has not been mentioned in this thread, so I would like to inform that CU-T1250 that has been in Voronezh for service a long time is flying again.
It first flew in September and has been in the air several times since then - yesterday was the last time.
It will be exciting to see how Cubana will operate two Il-96's.
...and what happens to the third one, CU-T1250, that should be operational, but has not been flying for many months?

knutnordlid wrote:

It has not been mentioned in this thread, so I would like to inform that CU-T1250 that has been in Voronezh for service a long time is flying again.
It first flew in September and has been in the air several times since then - yesterday was the last time.
It will be exciting to see how Cubana will operate two Il-96's.
...and what happens to the third one, CU-T1250, that should be operational, but has not been flying for many months?

So CU is retireing a Il-96 that as just when though heavy maintenance and got a new paint?

SR380 wrote:

knutnordlid wrote:

It has not been mentioned in this thread, so I would like to inform that CU-T1250 that has been in Voronezh for service a long time is flying again.
It first flew in September and has been in the air several times since then - yesterday was the last time.
It will be exciting to see how Cubana will operate two Il-96's.
...and what happens to the third one, CU-T1250, that should be operational, but has not been flying for many months?

So CU is retireing a Il-96 that as just when though heavy maintenance and got a new paint?

I think knutnordlid meant that CU-T1250 last flew yesterday, not that it was its last flight.

So, we now have CU-T1250 getting ready to get back to commercial service, then CU-T1251 has been operational for some months now, it flew HAV-EZE-HAV today, the southbound leg with a whopping 50-something paxs on board. Then CU-T1254 is stored at HAV, its future in doubt. Russian mechanics have said it needs quite some work and TLC before it can be flown to Voronezh for a major overhaul. And there is the hybrid Aeroflot-Cubana livery CU-T1717 that for over a couple of years at most was the sole operational IL96 with CU and that I understand has been retired. Not sure if returned to the lessor or awaiting overhaul in Russia.

dcajet wrote:

SR380 wrote:

knutnordlid wrote:

It has not been mentioned in this thread, so I would like to inform that CU-T1250 that has been in Voronezh for service a long time is flying again.
It first flew in September and has been in the air several times since then - yesterday was the last time.
It will be exciting to see how Cubana will operate two Il-96's.
...and what happens to the third one, CU-T1250, that should be operational, but has not been flying for many months?

So CU is retireing a Il-96 that as just when though heavy maintenance and got a new paint?

I think knutnordlid meant that CU-T1250 last flew yesterday, not that it was its last flight.

So, we now have CU-T1250 getting ready to get back to commercial service, then CU-T1251 has been operational for some months now, it flew HAV-EZE-HAV today, the southbound leg with a whopping 50-something paxs on board. Then CU-T1254 is stored at HAV, its future in doubt. Russian mechanics have said it needs quite some work and TLC before it can be flown to Voronezh for a major overhaul. And there is the hybrid Aeroflot-Cubana livery CU-T1717 that for over a couple of years at most was the sole operational IL96 with CU and that I understand has been retired. Not sure if returned to the lessor or awaiting overhaul in Russia.

I have been told that after sales service was a mess for Russian aircraft but I didn’t imagine it was all that bad! What ever happen to T1254? Why is it in such a bad shape?

dcajet wrote:

I think knutnordlid meant that CU-T1250 last flew yesterday, not that it was its last flight.

So, we now have CU-T1250 getting ready to get back to commercial service, then CU-T1251 has been operational for some months now, it flew HAV-EZE-HAV today, the southbound leg with a whopping 50-something paxs on board. Then CU-T1254 is stored at HAV, its future in doubt. Russian mechanics have said it needs quite some work and TLC before it can be flown to Voronezh for a major overhaul. And there is the hybrid Aeroflot-Cubana livery CU-T1717 that for over a couple of years at most was the sole operational IL96 with CU and that I understand has been retired. Not sure if returned to the lessor or awaiting overhaul in Russia.

Thanks for this information - I see that I wrote the wrong registration in the last question of my post there (post #42), it should have been CU-T1717 and you answered my question. I find it strange that this aircraft that didn´t fly so much during the years for Cubana is retiring, but perhaps it was only used as a stop gap whike the other two was serviced?

Well it's more or less a matter of time until they'll have to let these Il96's go, since the chances are slim to non that it'll get any cheaper to operate this beauty. A D-Check on a Il-963 would surely be looming above on the $20m mark; excl. operational costs and ferrying, and for an airline like Cubana to present those type of figures is agonising.

On the other hand, CU actually acquired one of SU's Il-963 (MSN74393201008) earlier this year and still shows to be delivered. Any news on that?

Could it be that the Russians are (financially) supporting Cuba/Cubana in some way? Friendly relations from the past...

redcap1962 wrote:

Could it be that the Russians are (financially) supporting Cuba/Cubana in some way? Friendly relations from the past...

As far as I know it was aquire with the financial aids of a Russian bank. At least 85% each planes were financed by a loan from Roseximbank. What kind of deal did they get when they bought it, that I don’t know. But is it really more expensive to operat then than used A330? Do they pay full price for C-D check?

SR380 wrote:

dcajet wrote:

SR380 wrote:

So CU is retireing a Il-96 that as just when though heavy maintenance and got a new paint?

I think knutnordlid meant that CU-T1250 last flew yesterday, not that it was its last flight.

So, we now have CU-T1250 getting ready to get back to commercial service, then CU-T1251 has been operational for some months now, it flew HAV-EZE-HAV today, the southbound leg with a whopping 50-something paxs on board. Then CU-T1254 is stored at HAV, its future in doubt. Russian mechanics have said it needs quite some work and TLC before it can be flown to Voronezh for a major overhaul. And there is the hybrid Aeroflot-Cubana livery CU-T1717 that for over a couple of years at most was the sole operational IL96 with CU and that I understand has been retired. Not sure if returned to the lessor or awaiting overhaul in Russia.

I have been told that after sales service was a mess for Russian aircraft but I didn’t imagine it was all that bad! What ever happen to T1254? Why is it in such a bad shape?

Well, I do not think that we can pin CU-T1254's state on the Russian post-sales service record, which, btw, leaves much to be desired. Cuba's perennial economic crisis and the lack of hard currency take their toll on Cubana and its operations, and operating those IL96s has to be ultra expensive. Stored for years at HAV, and probably used as a source of spares for CU-T1717, CU-T1254 has been rotting away under the unforgiving Caribbean weather.

redcap1962 wrote:

Could it be that the Russians are (financially) supporting Cuba/Cubana in some way? Friendly relations from the past...

Well, they certainly are making financing available so Cubana can get its hands on some newer. if highly inefficient equipment. Not sure if I would chalk it up entirely to past liaisons but to " 21st century realpolitik "

SR380 wrote:

redcap1962 wrote:

Could it be that the Russians are (financially) supporting Cuba/Cubana in some way? Friendly relations from the past...

As far as I know it was acquired with the financial ais of a Russian bank. At least 85% each planes were financed by a loan from Roseximbank. What kind of deal did they get when they bought it, that I don’t know. But is it really more expensive to operat then than used A330? Do they pay full price for C-D check?

Most, if not all, Russian banks and financial entities dealing with foreign trade, are controlled in one way or the other, by the Kremlin or its cronies. If it doesn't have official approval it doesn't happen. I can't speak as to what financial terms does Cuba receives from Kremlin, Inc. for their planes and on going operational support, but supplying Cuba with a handful of yesterday's technology commercial planes does not do wonders to advance the Kremlin's agenda overseas nor does it harm it. Again, "21st century real realpolitik". As much as Cuba was a defining milestone of the Cold War for more than three decades, it has now become irrelevant in the current geopolitical scene. At best, a frozen theme park of mid 20th century communism.