Airlines are scaling back or suspending service to Cuba after the government warned that aviation fuel will be unavailable at the country’s airports for at least one month.
The advisory, effective through March 11, applies nationwide—including Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Cayo Coco—and has triggered a wave of flight suspensions and contingency measures, particularly among Canadian carriers that dominate the island’s leisure market.
Air Canada has suspended all service to Cuba effective immediately, citing expectations that “as of Feb. 10 aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports.” The airline will operate empty southbound ferry flights over the coming days to repatriate approximately 3,000 travelers currently in Cuba.
“Air Canada’s immediate priority is to return customers already in Cuba to Canada,” the carrier says, adding that it will tanker additional fuel on remaining operations and make technical stops as needed on the return leg.
Air Canada operates an average of 16X-weekly flights to four Cuban destinations from Toronto Pearson and Montreal during the winter season. Seasonal service to Holguin and Santa Clara has now been canceled for the remainder of the season, while Varadero and Cayo Coco flights—normally year-round—are suspended with a tentative restart date of May 1, pending further review.
WestJet, along with Sunwing Vacations, has begun an “orderly wind down” of winter operations to Cuba. “To lessen the strain on local resources, beginning today, WestJet will depart Canada with empty aircraft to support the organized return of guests currently vacationing in Cuba,” the airline says. “All aircraft dispatched to Cuba will carry sufficient fuel to safely depart without reliance on local fuel availability.”
Air Transat has also suspended all Cuba flights, initially through April 30. The carrier says it will organize repatriation flights and will automatically refund customers whose trips had not yet begun.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Canadian carriers account for a significant share of Cuba’s international capacity. WestJet was scheduled to operate about 27,700 two-way seats this week, Air Transat roughly 16,100 and Air Canada about 5,322. WestJet holds around 21% of total international capacity to and from Cuba, followed by Transat with 12.2% and Air Canada with 4%.
European operators are also adjusting. Iberia has introduced booking flexibility for customers traveling between Madrid and Havana through Feb. 28, citing fuel supply issues that “may affect our operations.” Long-haul carriers including Air France and Turkish Airlines are expected to continue flying but are likely to rely on technical refueling stops in neighboring Caribbean countries on the return leg.
The fuel shortage is linked to broader geopolitical and supply chain pressures. Following recent U.S. actions against Venezuela—a key historical supplier of oil to Cuba—fuel flows to the island have been disrupted. While alternative suppliers, including Mexico, moved to offset the shortfall, a recent U.S. executive order threatening tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba has further constrained supply, prompting Cuban authorities to ration aviation fuel.
However, U.S. airlines have been less exposed, as scheduled U.S.-Cuba flying remains limited by restrictions put in place in 2019. American Airlines operates six short-haul routes from Miami to Cuban cities, while Delta Air Lines serves Havana from Miami. The short stage lengths from Florida mean U.S. airlines can operate Cuba services without needing to refuel locally.
