Air China cancels Madrid–Havana flights as 4 services face disruption

Disruption overview

Cancellations and timetable changes on Air China's Madrid–Havana route have affected 4 services, disrupting passengers and holding up parcel deliveries to families in Cuba. Flight CA865 from Madrid-Barajas Airport was listed as canceled for both 10th and 14 October 2026. Meanwhile its upcoming 21 October departure may have been moved 8 hours later. The Chinese Embassy in Cuba cited technical reasons.

If you're on the route flying from Madrid, EC 261 may provide compensation and other support, depending on the cause, notice given, and circumstances of your disruption.

Disruption details

Air China flight CA865 from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Havana was listed as canceled on flight-tracking platforms for 14 October 2026, following another cancellation on 10 October. Across the route, 4 services have been affected by cancellations or schedule changes.

For passengers, the disruptions like this mean long waits and extra expenses. Parcel deliveries to Cuba have also been held up, leaving families waiting for shipments.

The service connects Beijing and Havana via Madrid. A flight completed the Madrid–Havana route on 9 October, before the cancellations on 10 and 14 October.

Not every change means your flight has been canceled. Passenger notifications show different adjustments to upcoming services:

• CA865 from Madrid to Havana on 21 October 2026 had its departure moved from 2:45 pm to 10:45 pm, with arrival shifted to early the following morning.

• CA866 from Havana to Madrid on 14 November 2026 received a 15-minute schedule adjustment. The notification confirmed that the booking remained valid and the passenger didn't need to take any further action.

The difference matters if you're checking an upcoming journey: the 21 October departure has been moved 8 hours later, while the November return notification describes a much smaller change rather than a cancellation.

On 10 October, the Chinese Embassy in Cuba acknowledged frequent schedule changes and temporary cancellations affecting Air China's CA865 and CA866 services. It attributed the disruption to technical reasons. Passengers are being advised to keep a close watch on communications from Air China.

If you're departing Madrid, your flight is covered by EC 261, the EU's air passenger rights rules. A cancellation or an arrival delay of more than 3 hours may qualify for up to £520 compensation, depending on the circumstances. For these disruptions, eligibility will depend on whether the technical cause was within the airline's control and the details of your flight.

Compensation isn't the only support to consider. If your covered flight is canceled, you're entitled to a choice between an alternative flight and a refund. Depending on your wait, care can include food, refreshments, and overnight accommodation with transportation.

If your Madrid departure was affected, you can use AirHelp's free flight checker to find out whether you're eligible for compensation. Your exact rights depend on your journey and the disruption, so a schedule change alone doesn't guarantee a payment.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.