Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 2043
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Weather
This was a return flight from SBGR. I was the IRO. At crew pick up the flight plan was not available. City Traffic was heavy and the bus ride took about 50% longer than normal (usually about 45 minutes; I estimate it took an hour fifteen). The flight plan was not available until about 20 minutes from the airport. Due to poor cell data-links; I could not download the flight plan. Due to the late arrival at the terminal; the Captain went to Ops for paperwork; and the FO and I prepared the aircraft. I finally received the flight plan in the cockpit on my iPad; and the Captain brought the paperwork. A quick review by all ensued. Most was straightforward; although Kingston had an enroute NOTAM which said that 'ATS Service in Kingston was suspended; airspace contingency plan was in effect.'This did not seem to be a binding issue. Ground ops; takeoff; and establishment at cruise were normal. The route of flight went west of Cuba due to hurricane Maria. I went on first break. During my break; Dispatch sent an ACARS indicating Kingston airspace might close. It did not seem to be urgent or advise alternative action. I returned from my break and the Captain went on break. After crossing the Venezuela/Columbian boundary; Barranquilla advised us that due to the NOTAM; you must proceed to OTAMO. We entered the fix; and asked what our route was after. The controller stated 'I don't know. Contact your company.'Needless to say; this got our attention. I sent an ACARS to Dispatch; then called the Dispatcher by SATCOM. He stated we had known of possible Kingston closures prior to takeoff. In a sense; yes; but we thought the contingency plan took care of any problem. Since the contingency plan was not included in our paperwork; we believed it was an ATC issue; transparent to us. Due to Barranquilla's new fix and our fuel load; going around Kingston airspace was not a possibility. The Captain had joined us by this time (end of his break). We informed him of all events. We verified we did not have NOTAM in our paperwork for Kingston. Barranquilla advised us to contact Havana for further instructions. Meanwhile; Dispatch was attempting to contact Kingston by landline for clarification.We contacted Havana just prior to crossing Kingston's FIR. We believed at this point that Havana was providing ATS for Kingston. Unfortunately; this was not the case. They asked us to contact Kingston. At the same time; Dispatch advised the same. We contacted Kingston and they cleared us on a new route from OTAMO to AVUTI. We were not the only aircraft in this situation. At this point; I believed Kingston was using non-radar procedural separation. However; he later provided radar callouts for mutual traffic. We reached AVUTI uneventfully; were handed off to Havana; and the rest was uneventful.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B767 flight crew reported confusion due to reports that Kingston FIR was NOTAMed closed.