The company Air Canada announced the suspension of its regular flights to Cuba due to the shortage of aviation fuel on the island, while Spanish airlines reported that they will maintain their operations, although with adjustments that include technical stops to refuel.
The Canadian airline interrupted service this Monday, but will continue to operate special flightsknown as “ferry flights”, to repatriate about 3 thousand passengers who are currently in Cuba, refers to a report of the cnn.
“Air Canada made the decision following warnings issued by governments regarding the unstable supply of aviation fuel at Cuban airports,” the company explained in a statement cited by press reports.
The airline noted that For return flights you will charge additional fuel and will make technical stops if necessary to resupply during the journey.
The Canadian company operates an average of 16 weekly flights to the island, which last year received more than 754,000 Canadian visitors, according to official Cuban data.
Its decision to suspend its operations is a hard blow to Cuba’s tourism sector, which in 2025 had its worst performance in the last decade – discounting the pandemic – and has Canada as its main source market.
Data from 2025 confirm an “annus horribilis” for tourism in Cuba
Iberia and Air Europa will make a technical stopover in Santo Domingo
Meanwhile, the Spanish airline Air Europa reported that flights between Havana and Madrid will carry out technical stops in Santo Domingo to refuel, due to the lack of fuel in the José Martí International Airport.
The company specified that this measure will affect flights on February 10, 11 and 12, with changes in arrival times to Madrid.
For its part, Iberia indicated to EFE which has also activated a relaxation of rates, although it clarified that there is no confirmation that the fuel shortage will lead to cancellations of its operations between Madrid and Cuba.
The airlines’ decisions come after Cuban authorities issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) warning that there would be no aviation fuel available between February 10 and March 11 in Cuba.
Cuba informs international airlines that it does not have fuel for airplanes
Fuel crisis in Cuba and flights to the island
For its part, the American Airlines company pointed out cnn which, for the moment, will maintain its usual schedule of up to 11 daily flights to Cuba, ensuring that its planes can carry enough fuel for the return trip.
In this context, the Cuban Air Navigation Company SA assured that it maintains its operational services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
He added that he continues working to guarantee the safety and fluidity of the airspace, but did not mention the effects on flights due to the lack of fuel.
The fuel shortage in Cuba has intensified after the interruption of oil shipments from Venezuela following the events of January 3 and Donald Trump’s executive order that threatens tariffs on countries that supply crude oil to the island.
The Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, told cnn that these pressures have already had negative effects on the economy, in a scenario marked by constant blackouts and serious difficulties in the supply of fuel, among other shortcomings.
