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The Russian authorities announced the conclusion of the repatriation operation for nearly 4,300 tourists who were stranded in Cuba amid the energy crisis affecting the island, which has impacted the supply of fuel for aviation.
"The repatriation program has been completed," reported the Ministry of Transport of Russia through a statement released on Telegram.
The last flight landed at 5:27 PM (Moscow time) at Sheremetyevo International Airport. It was an aircraft from Rossiya Airlines (Aeroflot Group) coming from Varadero, one of the favorite destinations for Russian travelers. This operation marked the conclusion of the program that began on February 13th.
Nine flights from four Cuban airports
In addition to Rossiya Airlines, the company Nordwind Airlines participated in the operation. In total, both airlines transported nearly 4,300 passengers on nine flights from the airports of Varadero, Havana, Holguín, and Cayo Coco to Moscow.
According to the Russian Ministry of Transport, the eventual resumption of air connections will depend on the normalization of aviation kerosene supplies in Cuba.
On February 11, the Russian government recommended that tour operators suspend the sale of travel packages to the Island, after which airlines announced the temporary cancellation of their operations.
International context
Sheremetyevo Airport, where the repatriation flights landed, has been operating under constraints in recent days due to Ukrainian drone attacks, which have impacted air traffic in Russian territory.
Russia is currently the second largest source market for tourists to Cuba. So far in 2025, 131,882 Russian travelers have visited the island, surpassed only by Canada, which reports 754,010 visitors and has recently completed the repatriation of nearly 28,000 tourists.
The temporary suspension of flights and the return operation highlight the impact that the Cuban energy crisis has not only on the local population but also on the international tourism sector.
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