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The energy crisis and the decline of tourism in Cuba have forced the temporary closure of several hotel facilities in different parts of the country, while airlines and international tour operators activate contingency plans due to the lack of aviation fuel.
The Cuban government acknowledged that starting this week the country does not have sufficient fuel to supply international airlines, a situation that could persist for at least a month and affects all the international airports on the island.
In parallel, sector authorities confirmed the closure of hotels and the relocation of guests as part of a "compaction" strategy to reduce energy consumption during the peak season.
Closed hotels in Cuba: Affected facilities
According to the Canadian tour operator Transat, communicated to its travel agents, the following facilities will be closed until February 6:
- Cayo Santa María (SNU)
- Valentín Perla Blanca
- Sol Cayo Santa María
- Meliá Buenavista
- Cayo Coco / Cayo Guillermo (CCC)
- Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar
- Gran Muthu Imperial Cayo Guillermo
- Iberostar Origin Daiquirí
- Tryp Cayo Coco
- Mojito Hotel
- Varadero (VRA)
- Hotel El Patriarca
- Holguín (HOG)
- Gran Muthu Ensenada
Additionally, the Spanish chain Meliá reported that it has reduced its hotel availability on the island, aligning it with current occupancy levels and supply limitations.
Airlines suspend flights due to lack of fuel
The shortage of aviation fuel has triggered a chain reaction in the Canadian market, the main source of tourists to Cuba.
Air Canada announced the immediate suspension of its flights and will send empty planes to repatriate about 3,000 travelers who are on the island. Seasonal routes are canceled, and regular flights are suspended until further notice, with a possible resumption starting from May 1.
Air Transat has suspended its flights to Cuba until April 30 and is arranging return flights for its customers.
WestJet has canceled all its operations to the country, along with its associated brands Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations. In the case of vacation packages, customers can cancel or modify their bookings, but a hotel penalty of $200 per person applies in certain circumstances.
Iberia confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation and has made its fares more flexible for voluntary changes, although it does not foresee any cancellations on the Madrid-Havana route at this time.
Flexible policies for travelers
In light of hotel closures and operational uncertainty, several tour operators have relaxed their policies.
Transat allows changes to dates, hotels, or destinations without penalty for trips scheduled between February 7 and April 30 at affected locations. Customers can opt for a credit valid for one year.
Air Canada Vacations offers fee-free modifications for certain periods and the option to receive a future travel credit.
WestJet and Sunwing also announced waivers for change fees, although some packages still carry hotel penalties.
Another blow to a tourism in crisis
The energy crisis has intensified following the loss of the regular supply of Venezuelan oil, amid the tightening of U.S. sanctions and warnings from President Donald Trump about possible tariffs on countries that supply oil to the island.
Cuba closed 2025 with only 1.8 million international visitors and an average hotel occupancy of 21.5% in the first half of the year, figures well below the official targets.
While the regime insists on portraying tourism as an economic engine, millions of Cubans continue to face blackouts of up to 20 hours a day, inflation, and shortages of food and fuel.
The closure of hotels and the suspension of flights demonstrate that the crisis is no longer temporary, but structural, and directly impacts one of the few sectors that were still generating foreign currency for the country.
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