Related videos:
The airline Turkish Airlines (THY) has decided to temporarily suspend its flights to Cuba due to the fuel crisis affecting the country and the decline in tourism demand, according to reports from the aviation sector.
The company will operate its final flight to Havana on March 29 and will not operate routes to the island during the months of April and May, amid growing logistical difficulties in the supply of aviation fuel, reported the digital platform for aviation news Airline Haber.
The shortage of special fuel has forced Cuban authorities to limit the supply to international airlines, leading to operational adjustments in multiple companies.
Some have attempted to maintain their routes through technical stops for refueling in third countries, but rising costs and low demand have resulted in new cancellations.
The impact is already visible in the tourism sector, which is experiencing a decline in bookings during one of the peak periods for visitors, affecting operators and travel agencies that rely on air connectivity.
Turkish Airlines' decision is part of a broader trend. Airlines such as Air France, Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat have announced suspensions or significantly reduced their operations to Cuba in recent weeks, in response to the same fuel crisis affecting the country's airports.
This scenario directly impacts one of the main sources of foreign currency for the Cuban economy, at a time when tourism is already operating well below its historical levels.
Although the Cuban government attributes the crisis to external factors, the cancellations and reductions of flights also reflect accumulated structural problems that have limited the country's ability to maintain basic services and ensure stable operating conditions for the international industry.
The suspension of routes by Turkish Airlines thus confirms a deterioration that transcends internal matters and begins to further isolate the island, amid an energy crisis that continues to worsen.
Filed under: