Originally Posted by exAC
Cubana stops in YQX because their aircraft do not have the range for non-stop to Europe.
Very seldom do you see Cubana aircraft in YQX now. They use Airbus A330s that can easily do the European routes nonstop.
Gander was once a popular location to Defect to the west before the Berlin Wall fell when Cubana would stopover here on routes between Eastern Europe and Havana. I remember seeing the old Russian built Iliushin aircraft in to refuel many times. Also Aeroflot.