In recent hours, a video has gone viral on social media showing dozens of tourists disembarking from an aircraft on the tarmac in Moscow after their flight to Cuba was aborted just before takeoff.
The testimonies collected by the Russian outlet Mash on Telegram indicate that passengers on flight SU6849 were almost ready for takeoff when “at the last moment, when the engines were already running, the pilot announced that there was no fuel in Havana”, forcing the cancellation of the flight at the very last minute.
In response to that sudden communication, the travelers had to "write statements to return the tickets" and complete procedures for the refund of their fares.
Several were offered the option to rebook their vacation destinations - for example, flying to China, Egypt, or Turkey - as an alternative, according to reports to Mash.
On February 11, the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia (Rosaviatsia) announced the temporary suspension of all flights between Moscow and Cuba. Before this measure takes full effect, the authorities will ensure the return of Russian tourists who are currently on the island.
The decision is directly related to the severe shortage of aviation fuel in Cuba, a further consequence of the energy crisis the country is experiencing, which is already directly impacting international air connectivity.
To execute the repatriation, two airlines were designated: Rossiya - a subsidiary of the Aeroflot group - and Nordwind Airlines (also known as Severny Veter).
Both will operate special flights exclusively returning to Russia, departing from the international airports of Havana and Varadero.
According to estimates released in recent days, around 4,000 Russian tourists are currently in Cuba.
To transport them, the airlines will operate ferry flights: the planes will take off empty from Moscow, as they cannot refuel on the island due to the collapse in the JET-A1 supply.
The suspension also affects travelers who purchased tickets outside of tour packages. Rossiya announced that it has enabled full refunds for tickets that have already been issued.
"In the coming days, Rossiya will carry out several flights solely for the return… to ensure the return of Russian tourists," Rosaviatsia announced through its official Telegram channel.
Once the evacuation is complete, the regular flight schedule between the two countries will be suspended until further notice. "Afterward, the airline's flight program will temporarily cease until the situation changes," specified the regulatory body.
Cancellations and suspension of sales
The impact of the crisis is already spreading to the tourism sector. Pegas Touristik, one of the leading Russian tour operators, has confirmed that it has stopped selling new packages to Cuba, although it assured that the return of travelers will take place "in an organized manner and within the expected timelines."
For its part, Nordwind Airlines is maintaining some specific operations to Holguín and Varadero, but under "forced adjustments" in its schedule, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR).
In practice, the usual bilateral connectivity has been seriously compromised. The Russian Ministry of Transport acknowledged that it is working on finding "alternatives to resume flight schedules in both directions," although no specific timeline was provided.
A turning point
The temporary suspension of air routes marks a delicate moment in the tourism relationship between Russia and Cuba, one of the few markets that in recent years had maintained a steady flow of visitors to the island.
The image of aircraft traveling empty from Moscow to pick up passengers and returning without a defined date of return symbolizes the extent of the crisis: without available fuel for regular operations, the country faces a logistical vulnerability that goes beyond tourism.
The evacuation of Russian citizens is an immediate contingency measure. However, the underlying issue reveals a structural problem: the lack of energy supplies, the fragility of infrastructure, and the growing impact on strategic sectors of the economy.
Although Russian authorities have assured that diplomatic channels remain open, the normalization of flights will depend on Cuba's ability to restore aviation fuel supplies. For now, uncertainty prevails and leaves one of the island's main air links with Eastern Europe in suspense.
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