Cuba is currently facing an aviation fuel crisis that has led to numerous flight cancellations, leaving many travelers in a state of uncertainty. This situation is deeply concerning, especially given the island's previous allure as a prime getaway for countless vacationers from the UK and beyond. Unfortunately, due to stricter sanctions imposed by the United States, the country appears to be teetering on the brink of a logistical breakdown.
As Cuba's aviation authorities have announced, there will be no available fuel for flights for at least the next month, resulting in the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from various airports, including Havana. This announcement aligns with a recent advisory issued by the Foreign Office, highlighting the widespread power cuts across the nation, some of which can last longer than 24 hours. The root cause of these blackouts stems from a severe shortage of fuel necessary to operate generators, further complicating daily life on the island.
Despite these challenges, Cuba still retains a degree of popularity among independent travelers hailing from Europe. However, the precarious nature of the situation raises several pressing questions about the future of travel to this Caribbean destination.
So, what exactly has led to this fuel shortage? The crisis began when the US government seized assets linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a crucial supplier of oil to Cuba. To compensate for this disruption, Mexican suppliers attempted to fill the gap. However, a new executive order issued by former President Donald Trump on January 30 claimed that Cuba's actions pose direct threats to US safety and security. Consequently, any country providing oil to Cuba would face punitive tariffs, leading to a significant decline in fuel supplies.
The impact on air travel has been immediate and substantial. Given its geographic size, Cuba has always operated with a limited number of flights, but the current situation has made these even scarcer. In a Notice to Air Missions (Notam), aviation officials stated that "Jet A1 Fuel Not Available" starting from 5 AM GMT on a Tuesday until March 11. This fuel shortage specifically affects major airports including those in Havana, Varadero, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Santa Clara, and Cayo Coco.
As a direct result of this fuel scarcity, Air Canada has suspended its entire weekly schedule of 32 flights connecting Canadian airports to Cuba. The airline explained that this decision was made in response to government advisories regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports. They anticipate that as of February 10, there will not be any aviation fuel commercially available at the island’s airports. Similarly, WestJet has also begun to cancel certain flights.
For British travelers who often route through Canada to reach Cuba, those who have booked flights with Air Canada or WestJet can expect to receive a full refund for their canceled trips.
What about the thousands of passengers currently in Cuba awaiting their return home? Air Canada has announced that they will facilitate special "ferry flights" to ensure these travelers can get back. The airline has indicated that it will bring in additional fuel on outbound flights and make necessary technical stops to refuel on the way back, if needed. This means that flights destined for Cuba will carry more fuel than required for the initial journey, allowing for diversions to places such as the Bahamas for refueling if necessary.
Are other airlines likely to follow in Air Canada's footsteps? Many connections to Havana and other Cuban airports originate from nearby locations, such as Miami, where obtaining fuel is less problematic. Major European carriers like Iberia and Air Europa offer flights from Madrid, alongside Air France from Paris, Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, and Rossiya from Moscow. It’s anticipated that these airlines may also make technical stops to refuel during their return flights.
The fuel crisis is not merely an issue isolated to aviation; it extends into the everyday lives of Cubans. The Foreign Office has issued a serious warning regarding the ongoing problems with the national power grid and fuel supply. Prolonged outages are common, disrupting essential services such as water supply, lighting, refrigeration, and communications. Moreover, transportation has been affected, leading to long queues at gas stations, while resorts and businesses that depend on diesel-powered generators are struggling to operate effectively.
Travelers are advised to conserve fuel, water, food, and charge their mobile devices, as significant disruptions are expected to continue. From February 7, 2026, the Cuban government introduced strict limitations on fuel purchases at petrol stations, which will further affect intra-island travel. Reports suggest that some tourists are being moved to different hotels to optimize fuel consumption from generators.
If you have a holiday booked, can you cancel your plans? If you purchased a flight-only ticket and the flight is still operating, you generally do not have the right to cancel without penalty. Similarly, if your travel company can still provide the agreed-upon trip, they are not obligated to issue a refund. However, if conditions on the island render the planned itinerary impossible, you may be entitled to cancel your booking. Should the Foreign Office advise against travel to Cuba, you would then have the right to cancel your trip for a full refund. It's important to note that traveling against FCDO advice typically invalidates standard travel insurance policies.
