Last year, J&D Oilfield International won a contract to supply aviation fuel to Cuba’s airports. The deal by the Venezuelan company represents further expansion in the Latin American region, following on from 10 years of previous growth. J&D also has a presence in the U.S., with an office in Miami. The service company is also able to assist with permits to Cuba for business and commercial aviation wherever an operator may be coming from, along with ground handling.

Speaking with AIN at the LABACE show yesterday, South America commercial manager Rona Aponte (who is based in Miami) said, “We supply all the 14 airports in Cuba, through a contract with the government.” She added that the company also supplies aviation fuel in Brazil through Petrobras, but it is also keen to promote its new presence in Cuba during LABACE this week. Aponte said business there has been “good,” adding, “it’s increasing; we manage fuel for most commercial airlines–[such as] Avianca and Lufthansa–and business aviation is growing too, now.”

Aponte added, “There is a lot of interest in flying to Cuba, especially among Mexicans.” She was keen to point out that J&D also offers its fuel and ground handling at various airports in the U.S., but in Cuba she said, “We have no U.S. competitors,” referring to Shell or BP, although she said Jetex Flight Support has some presence there now.