Cuba is running out of kerosene

Travelers to Cuba should be prepared for short-notice changes to air traffic: Due to an acute energy crisis, the country has temporarily halted the supply of aviation fuel. Airlines have been informed that they will not be able to refuel at Cuban airports for approximately one month.

The situation was triggered by a sharp decline in oil deliveries from Venezuela, driven by tighter U.S. sanctions. The resulting energy shortage is now forcing Cuba to take drastic measures, with direct repercussions for international air traffic. Among those impacted is the country’s primary gateway, José Martí International Airport in Havana.

Canadian airline Air Canada has announced it is temporarily suspending flights to Cuba due to a fuel shortage. In the coming days, only empty aircraft will be sent to the Caribbean island to repatriate approximately 3,000 customers, operating in line with the regular flight schedule.

Canadians make up the majority of visitors to the island. «Air Canada will continue to monitor the situation in order to decide on an appropriate resumption of normal flight operations to Cuba at a later date,» the airline stated.

Other airlines are taking precautionary measures without completely suspending their services. Air Europa, for example, is planning technical stopovers in the neighboring Dominican Republic to refuel, as reported by the Spanish newspaper «El País». Iberia is offering refunds and exchanges for flight tickets – as is Air Canada.