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The complete lack of aviation fuel on the island is already forcing international airlines, including Russian companies, to reschedule their flights, in a situation that could leave thousands of passengers stranded or facing long delays to leave the country.
According to the specialized media Aviacionline, the Cuban government informed the airlines operating on the island that starting this Monday, February 9, there is no availability of Jet A-1, the essential fuel for commercial flights. The warning, confirmed by the EFE agency, affects a schedule that exceeds 400 weekly flights and more than 70,000 seats planned just for February.
The impact is already being felt on key routes. Russian airlines like Aeroflot and Nordwind have started to adjust their operations to and from Varadero, Havana, and Holguín, while other companies are forced to add technical stops outside of Cuba to refuel and complete the return of their aircraft. Cancun, Punta Cana, and Nassau are among the airports used for these emergency stops.
The crisis is hitting tourist destinations like Varadero and Cayo Coco hard, which are heavily reliant on the Canadian and Russian markets, as well as sensitive routes for Cuban emigration, such as flights between Havana and Miami. In these cases, passengers are facing delays, itinerary changes, and the real possibility of being stranded on the island due to logistical issues beyond the airlines' control.
According to Aviacionline, the fuel shortage is a direct consequence of the tightening energy pressure on Cuba following the order signed by President Donald Trump on January 29, which threatens sanctions against countries that supply oil to the island. Additionally, this is compounded by the loss of Venezuelan crude oil following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in an operation authorized by Washington.
The situation is particularly delicate because Cuba only produces a third of the fuel it needs and relies on imports that are now at risk. The Government itself has already implemented an emergency plan that includes restrictions on diesel and cuts in public services, signaling that the crisis extends beyond the aviation sector.
For now, airlines have not announced mass cancellations, but delays, rising costs, and operational adjustments are expected, which could worsen if the situation continues. For thousands of tourists and Cubans with flights scheduled in the coming days, uncertainty is taking off again from the island's airports.
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