Air Canada has announced the immediate suspension of its flights to Cuba due to a severe shortage of aviation fuel on the island, marking one of the most significant disruptions to Canadian leisure travel to the Caribbean in recent years. The decision, effective February 9, 2026, follows formal aviation notices warning that Cuba’s international airports will be unable to provide Jet A-1 fuel for at least a month, forcing airlines to reconsider their operations to the popular winter‑sun destination.
What Air Canada Has Announced So Far
In a statement released on February 9, Air Canada confirmed that it is suspending all regular passenger service to Cuba in response to an ongoing aviation fuel shortage. The airline said the move comes after authorities issued formal Notices to Air Missions, or NOTAMs, indicating that commercial jet fuel supplies at Cuban airports can no longer be guaranteed. The shortage is expected to affect all nine of Cuba’s international airports, including Havana, Varadero, Holguín, Cayo Coco and Santa Clara.
Air Canada emphasized that the suspension takes effect immediately and is framed as a safety and operational reliability measure rather than a commercial decision. With aviation fuel projected to be unavailable at Cuban airports from February 10, 2026, the carrier noted that continuing normal service would leave aircraft and passengers exposed to unacceptable operational risks, particularly on return sectors that rely on local refuelling.
While regular service is paused, the airline has stressed that it is not withdrawing from the Cuban market permanently. Instead, the suspension is described as temporary and directly tied to the duration of the fuel crisis. Air Canada says it will continue to monitor conditions closely and evaluate when a restart is feasible, tentatively eyeing early May 2026 for some routes, subject to a review of the fuel situation on the island.
How Existing Passengers Will Be Brought Home
With approximately 3,000 Air Canada customers currently vacationing in Cuba, the airline’s immediate priority is repatriation. To avoid stranding travellers at resort destinations across the island, Air Canada will operate a series of empty “ferry” flights from Canada to Cuba over the coming days. These aircraft will arrive without passengers, collect customers at Cuban airports and then return directly to Canada.
Because local jet fuel supplies are unreliable or unavailable, the airline will tanker extra fuel from Canada wherever operationally possible. On some routes, this may require technical stops in third countries for refuelling before continuing back to Canadian airports. Although such measures lengthen flight times and add complexity for crews, they allow the airline to maintain a controlled schedule for bringing Canadians home safely.
Air Canada Vacations, the tour operator arm of the airline, has deployed local representatives at Cuban resorts to assist customers on the ground. These teams are responsible for providing updated flight information, organizing airport transfers, and helping resolve any issues around extended stays or early departures. Travellers are being advised to stay in close contact with Air Canada Vacations staff and to monitor their email or booking profiles for automatic notifications about revised departure times.
What This Means for Upcoming Trips and Bookings
For travellers with future plans to Cuba on Air Canada, the suspension triggers a widespread program of cancellations and refunds. Air Canada Vacations has introduced a refund policy for customers whose Cuba flights are cancelled due to the fuel shortage. Those who had booked package holidays will automatically receive a full refund to their original form of payment, without needing to contact call centres, reducing pressure on customer service lines at a time of high demand.
Earlier in February, even before the full suspension, Air Canada and several Canadian tour operators had implemented flexible rebooking policies for Cuba. These allowed passengers with tickets issued prior to the current crisis to change their travel dates or switch destinations without penalty. With the situation now escalating into a full halt of Air Canada’s Cuba operations, affected travellers are increasingly being steered toward refunds or alternative sun destinations where operations remain stable.
Customers who booked flight‑only itineraries directly with Air Canada should review their reservations online or via the airline’s app. Most will see their flights marked as cancelled, together with options for refunds or rebooking on different routes. Travellers who have used travel agencies are encouraged to liaise with their agents, who can manage changes and refund requests through their distribution systems.
Scope of the Suspension: Routes and Destinations Affected
Prior to the suspension, Air Canada operated an average of 16 weekly flights from Toronto and Montreal to four Cuban destinations: Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín and Santa Clara. These routes formed a cornerstone of the carrier’s winter leisure program, funnelling Canadian visitors to some of Cuba’s most popular beach areas. Seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara had already been trimmed earlier in the season, and they are now cancelled for the remainder of the winter schedule.
Year‑round services to Varadero and Cayo Coco are currently suspended as part of the broader pause. Air Canada had tentatively marked May 1, 2026, as a target date for resuming these flights, but the airline has made clear that any restart depends entirely on a reliable resumption of jet fuel availability at Cuban airports. In the meantime, aircraft that would normally serve Cuba are likely to be redeployed to other sun destinations in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or the southern United States, where demand from Canadian travellers remains strong through the late‑winter and spring periods.
For travellers, the practical consequence is a substantial reduction in direct air capacity between Canada and Cuba, at least in the short term. While other Canadian carriers continue operating for now, Air Canada’s withdrawal removes a significant share of seats, potentially tightening availability and affecting fares on remaining services operated by competitor airlines.
The Fuel Crisis Behind the Decision
The suspension of Air Canada’s Cuba flights is part of a broader energy and fuel crisis affecting the island’s aviation infrastructure. Official notices circulated through the global NOTAM system state that starting February 10, 2026, Cuba’s international airports will not have Jet A-1 fuel available for at least a month. The notice applies to nine major airports, including Havana’s José Martí International Airport and key tourist gateways such as Varadero and Cayo Coco.
These notices are critical safety tools in global aviation, alerting airlines and flight crews to changes or hazards that may affect flight operations. In this case, the indication that jet fuel is “not available” effectively means that airlines can no longer plan on refuelling aircraft within Cuba, which creates operational challenges. Aircraft designed for specific route lengths and payloads must either tanker enough fuel to complete both legs without refuelling or schedule intermediate stops elsewhere, adding cost, time and complexity.
The fuel shortage itself is tied to a broader energy crisis on the island, with reports of rolling power outages and constrained supply chains affecting multiple sectors. Constraints on oil imports have periodically affected Cuba in recent years, but the current situation stands out for its severity and direct impact on international aviation. For Cuba’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on airlift from Canada and Europe, the disruption comes at a critical period of high-season demand.
Impact on Canadian Travellers and the Cuban Tourism Industry
For Canadian sun‑seekers, the Air Canada suspension will be felt most immediately by those with trips booked for February and March, traditionally peak months for Cuba travel. Many families, couples and long‑stay visitors who favour Cuban resorts for their relative affordability and cultural appeal will now need to adjust or rethink their plans. Some may opt to rebook to other Caribbean or Mexican destinations, while others may defer travel entirely.
The disruption is even more significant for Cuba’s tourism industry, which counts Canada as one of its most important source markets. Canadian visitors are a mainstay for many resorts in Varadero, Cayo Coco and other beach enclaves, providing steady occupancy that supports local employment and foreign currency earnings. A prolonged reduction in flights from Canada will likely pressure resort operators, tour companies and ancillary services such as excursion providers and local guides.
There is also a knock‑on effect for Canadian travel agencies and tour operators who specialize in Cuba packages. They must now handle large volumes of rebookings and refunds, manage relationships with resort partners facing uncertain occupancy, and provide timely, accurate information to clients. Many agencies had already seen increased customer anxiety following earlier reports of fuel shortages and power cuts in Cuban tourist zones; Air Canada’s suspension further intensifies that uncertainty.
What Other Airlines Are Doing
While Air Canada has moved to suspend its Cuba operations, other Canadian carriers have, for the moment, chosen different strategies. Some airlines continue to operate scheduled services, in part by carrying additional fuel on board and planning technical refuelling stops in third countries where necessary. Others have activated flexible rebooking policies, allowing passengers to change dates or destinations without penalties if they no not feel comfortable travelling amid the fuel shortage.
Tour operators associated with these carriers are closely monitoring hotel operations on the island, as some resorts confront ancillary effects of the energy crisis such as temporary closures or reduced services. Several Canadian companies have advised that if a hotel must temporarily close, guests will be re‑accommodated at alternate properties of similar or higher category, or will be offered credits or refunds depending on the circumstances.
The situation remains fluid and could evolve quickly if fuel supplies are further constrained or if additional NOTAMs extend the period of unavailability beyond mid‑March. Travellers booked with any airline to Cuba over the coming weeks are urged to sign up for flight alerts, review their booking terms, and stay in regular contact with their airline or tour operator for the latest operational updates.
Practical Advice for Travellers With Upcoming Cuba Plans
For travellers who are already in Cuba on Air Canada tickets, the most important step is to follow instructions from Air Canada Vacations representatives and monitor official communications about repatriation flights. Travellers should ensure their contact details are up to date in their bookings, keep their phones charged where possible, and allow extra time for airport transfers, check‑in and security, as operations may be busier and more complex than usual.
Those with upcoming departures to Cuba on Air Canada should expect their flights to be cancelled and should look for automatic notifications about refunds or alternative options. If no communication appears, checking the booking directly on Air Canada’s website or app is recommended before calling, as many changes can be processed online. Travellers who booked through tour operators or travel agencies should work through those channels to explore options such as switching to a different destination, moving travel dates, or accepting a full refund.
For Canadians holding bookings with other airlines, the key is vigilance. They should verify whether their flights remain confirmed, ask their carriers how they are handling the fuel shortage operationally, and review travel insurance policies to understand coverage for trip interruptions or cancellations linked to infrastructure failures. In some cases, insurance providers may require written confirmation from airlines or tour operators documenting the reason for cancellation or significant delay.
Looking Ahead: When Might Normal Service Resume
Current aviation notices indicate that Cuba’s international airports may be without jet fuel from February 10 until at least March 11, 2026. If supplies are restored as projected, airlines will still need time to assess the reliability of the fuel network, coordinate schedules, and bring aircraft and crews back into the market. Air Canada has suggested a tentative restart of some Cuba flights around May 1, but has been clear that this date is not guaranteed and will be revisited as the situation develops.
Much will depend on whether Cuba can stabilize its energy and fuel supply chains in the coming weeks. For the Cuban tourism industry, restoring predictable aviation services is a critical priority, as airlines and tour operators require confidence that operations will not be abruptly disrupted by future shortages. For Canadian travellers, a return to normal service will likely be gradual, starting with the most popular routes and potentially expanding as demand and operational conditions permit.
In the meantime, travellers seeking winter and spring sunshine have a wide range of alternatives across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. While Cuba remains a uniquely appealing destination for many, the current fuel crisis underscores how dependent the island’s tourism sector is on stable energy and transportation infrastructure. Until those foundations are secure, airlines like Air Canada are likely to proceed cautiously, prioritizing reliability and safety over a rapid resumption of service.