Cubana, and other interesting airlines
 

I'm thinking of booking a trip to Cuba soon, does anyone know if they still use the IL62 on any routes? My research so far has found nothing, but if anyone knows anything, it'd be appreciated :)

I've seen a Cubana jet at Gatwick several times - it's always been the Ilyushin with 4 underslung engines (IL-86?)

Looks like they might have left the fleet now. You could try the Cubana website - if you can get any of the links to work!

that would be the IL96, ive checked the Cubana website, and whilst my Spanish is not great i get the same impression, just asking incase im wrong :P

My neice flew with Cubana to Havana not too long ago. The aircraft was indeed an Il-96. She had no complaints about the flight itself but was not impressed with how Cubana dealt with the 32 hour delay.

Ps: I seem to recall that Cubana had problems with the Il-96 at Gatwick earlier this year and they useed a chartered B763 as substitute for a while.

I understand that the IL-62s are due to leave the fleet, as are the AN-24s. If they are still operational it is probable that they are just there for back-up purposes.

However, in theory, Cubana operates its IL-96s on routes from Cuba to Buenos Aires, London Gatwick, Madrid and Paris-Orly. As TSR2 rightly mentions, they did have a few problems earlier this year and had to charter in a 767 to cover flights for a while; but I believe IL-96 equipment is now back in use. Cubana now also has TU-204s in operation, both as passenger and freighter aircraft. You can - again, in theory - catch a TU-204 on the routes to Bogota, Santo Domingo and Caracas. Finally you can usually still catch a Yak-42 on the Havana-Cancun route daily.

I'm afraid that opportunities to fly on an IL-62 are getting fewer and farther between. You might be lucky with Air Koryo on the Beijing-Pyongyang route, though they now use the TU-204 too.

I believe the last Cubana IL62 operated in 2008. Cubana never operated the IL86. A lot of Cubana flights are operated by 767s and A320s which they charter in from various operators in Europe and Latin America. The notional types shown in their schedules are often well removed from reality.

The IL96 is their mainstream type, but they suffer from a range of issues with availability of spares and similar causes of the aircraft ending up AOG for periods of time. A shame, as the IL96 is a nice, modern feeling aircraft.

FlightAware > Cubana de Aviacion #3311 > 05-Nov-2010 > SVMI-MUHA

IL62.

The IL62 is still 'alive' at Cubana. There were two operational the last time I was in Havana, one departing to Caracas, the other arriving from Nassau. They also operate the TU204 to both of the above.

Cubana operates the IL96 weekly (Thursday) ex LGW. You may have more luck finding out when the IL62 is flying by talking to Mr. Vasquez, Cubana Station Manager at LGW.