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The French airline Air France has confirmed that it will continue its route to Havana, but will implement a technical stop in the Caribbean to refuel, due to the inability to do so at Cuban airports because of the severe energy crisis the island is experiencing.
“The airline Air France in Havana stated to AFP that it maintains its route with a planned technical stop in another Caribbean country,” a spokesperson declared to the French agency.
Aerospace industry sources have indicated that refueling will take place in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, which represents a temporary solution but incurs additional operational costs, delays, and potential impacts on passengers, particularly regarding the chain of connections in Paris and other European destinations.
Air France's decision is part of a readjustment forced by the total shortage of JetFuel in Cuba, which prevents the supply of long-haul international flights for their return routes.
Although other companies have chosen to cancel flights or modify their operations, Air France has decided to maintain the connection, adapting it logistically.
Cuba officially informs airlines: There will be no fuel
All airlines have been informed by the Civil Aviation of Cuba that starting from February 10 at 00:00 local time (05:00 UTC), Cuban airports will not have a supply of JetFuel for at least one month.
The notice was formalized through a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), the official mechanism used to communicate restrictions or special conditions in air navigation.
Airlines operating transatlantic or long-haul flights will now be required to plan technical stopovers in neighboring countries before commencing their return from Cuba, or alternatively, cancel their operations, as has been the case with Canadian airlines.
Reactions from the sector: Delays, cancellations, and modified routes
In addition to Air France, other European airlines have adjusted their operations. Iberia and Air Europa announced that they will operate the Madrid–Havana route with a stop in Santo Domingo, while Air Canada chose to cancel its flights to the island.
The US airlines that operate regular flights to Cuba, on the other hand, have stated that they will maintain their flight frequencies, as their planes arrive with the necessary fuel to complete the outbound and return journeys without needing to refuel on the island.
However, the situation has already led to silent cancellations of some flights from companies like WestJet and Russian operators, according to aerial tracking systems. Travelers may be affected by delays, itinerary changes, or higher prices, at least for the next month.
An unprecedented energy crisis
The shortage of aviation fuel is part of a national energy crisis that has forced the Cuban government to announce emergency measures aimed at conserving resources and ensuring the minimal operation of sectors deemed strategic.
Last Friday, the Havana Executive announced a series of measures to reduce fuel consumption across all sectors of the country:
-Implementation of a four-day workweek and promotion of teleworking in state institutions.
- Severe restrictions on the sale of fuel, even at service stations.
-Reduction of interprovincial public transportation services (trains and buses).
-Temporary closure of non-essential tourist establishments.
-Reduction of school hours and transition to hybrid learning in universities.
These decisions aim to ensure the use of available fuel in areas such as food production, electricity generation, and acquiring foreign currency.
The trigger: end of Venezuelan oil and pressure from Trump
The current extreme scarcity was precipitated by the collapse of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela in early January, which led to an immediate cut in oil supplies to Cuba, which had relied almost exclusively on Venezuelan crude under preferential conditions for years.
This loss is now compounded by the pressure exerted by the U.S. administration.
Last week, President Donald Trump signed a presidential decree warning of the possibility of imposing tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, which the Cuban government has described as an attempt at "economic suffocation."
"Trump stated that Mexico will stop supplying oil to Cuba as it has done since 2023," reports the AFP agency.
Washington justifies its policy on the alleged "exceptional threat" that Cuba poses to U.S. national security, a formulation that allows for the activation of urgent and unilateral measures.
With international tourism still slowly recovering from the pandemic, the new energy crisis poses a severe blow to Cuba's air connectivity, right in the peak season. Restrictions on flights, forced layovers, and cancellations not only impact travelers but also limit the inflow of foreign currency at a time when the country is facing its worst economic situation in decades.
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