A sudden aviation fuel crisis in Cuba has prompted major carriers including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Sunwing, and Air France to suspend or sharply curtail flights to the island, stranding thousands of travelers and throwing winter vacation plans into disarray just as peak sun season hits.
How a Jet Fuel Shortage Brought Cuba’s Skies to a Halt
The disruption traces back to a deepening energy crisis in Cuba, where authorities have confirmed that Jet A-1 fuel, the standard kerosene used by commercial aircraft, is no longer reliably available at José Martí International Airport in Havana and several key tourist gateways. A formal aviation notice issued in early February warned airlines that jet fuel would not be available at Havana for at least a month, effectively preventing normal refueling on the island.
The fuel squeeze is a byproduct of wider economic and political pressures, including tightened U.S. sanctions targeting Cuba’s access to oil and the earlier collapse of subsidized shipments from Venezuela. With domestic energy production limited and external supplies constrained, the government has prioritized basic services and power generation, leaving civil aviation at the mercy of dwindling imports.
The result is a cascading impact on international airlines. Carriers that relied on Havana and beach resort airports such as Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santa Clara, and others for routine refueling suddenly found they could neither top up tanks nor safely plan round-trip operations without major changes. For some, the only viable option was to pull back from Cuba entirely until the situation stabilizes.
Which Airlines Are Suspending Flights, and for How Long
Canadian travelers are feeling the shock first. Air Canada, the country’s largest carrier into Cuba, has suspended all flights to the island, halting service to Havana and popular resort destinations and focusing instead on repatriating customers already in Cuba. The carrier has publicly tied the decision to the confirmed fuel blackout at Cuban airports and indicated that regular commercial service is unlikely to resume before late spring at the earliest.
WestJet and Air Transat have also implemented temporary suspensions on key Cuba routes, including packages to beach resorts that are mainstays of the Canadian winter sun market. Both airlines have framed the moves as responses to conditions outside their control and have shifted capacity to other Caribbean destinations where fuel and infrastructure remain stable.
Sunwing, a major player in the Canadian leisure market, has scaled back heavily, canceling a significant number of departures and reconfiguring others. While in some cases the airline is operating so-called tankering flights, carrying additional fuel from Canada to cover the journey without refueling in Cuba, those operations are limited and subject to last-minute change.
Across the Atlantic, European carriers are making similar calculations. Air France has announced the suspension of selected services into Cuba, particularly those relying on refueling in Havana. In parallel, other European airlines have opted to operate with refueling stops in third countries rather than halt flights entirely. The combined effect is a thinner, less predictable network into Cuba just as many travelers had expected a strong high season revival.
What the Fuel Crisis Means for Your Upcoming Trip
For anyone holding tickets to Cuba in February, March, or April 2026, the immediate impact is uncertainty. Airline schedules that looked firm just weeks ago are now subject to cancellation or radical timing changes with little warning. Even where flights remain on sale, carriers stress that operations depend on evolving fuel availability and regulatory notices from Cuban authorities.
Travelers with package holidays through Canadian tour operators are among the most affected. Many have seen outbound flights canceled but return flights maintained for a limited period to bring tourists home. Others are being offered rebooking to alternative sun destinations, such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic, often at no additional cost but sometimes with higher fares or limited seat availability on prime dates.
Those with independent trips, particularly via Air France and other European carriers, face a different set of risks. A flight may still operate, but with a technical stop added mid-route for refueling, potentially lengthening travel time, altering connection windows, and creating knock-on delays. In a few cases, routed services are operating in one direction only, with return journeys consolidated or shifted to other days.
The bottom line is that if your next vacation involves Cuba in the coming weeks, you should treat your plans as provisional. Confirming flight status repeatedly in the days before departure, watching for schedule change emails, and staying flexible about dates and even destinations are now essential parts of trip planning.
Your Rights on Refunds, Rebookings, and Package Holidays
While rules vary by country and ticket type, most of the affected airlines have moved quickly to offer relatively straightforward options for customers whose flights are canceled outright. Air Canada, for example, has said that travelers booked on suspended Cuba services within the defined impact window will receive full refunds to their original form of payment, including loyalty points and vouchers used for the booking.
Similar refund and credit policies are being introduced by WestJet, Air Transat, and Sunwing, though the exact terms can differ. In many cases, passengers can opt for either a cash refund or a travel credit, and some are permitted a one-time free change to alternate destinations within the airline’s network, subject to seat availability. Where national passenger protection regulations apply, such as in Canada and the European Union, these minimum rights form the baseline, and airlines may go further voluntarily to preserve customer goodwill.
Package tour customers typically have additional protections under package travel rules. If a key component such as the flight is canceled and the tour operator cannot provide a comparable alternative, you are usually entitled to a refund for the entire package. Many operators are also proactively offering switches to other Caribbean resorts or later travel dates, sometimes with modest incentives to encourage rebooking instead of refunds.
What remains less predictable is compensation for consequential expenses such as independently booked hotels, excursions, or non-refundable connecting flights to your Cuban departure point. In these cases, travelers may need to look to their travel insurance policies, credit card protections, or negotiate goodwill gestures from suppliers. Keeping documentation of all communications and receipts will be important if you pursue claims later.
Stranded in Cuba: How Airlines Are Repatriating Tourists
For thousands of visitors already on the island when the fuel crisis came into full view, the priority has been getting home. Air Canada and other Canadian carriers have dispatched so-called ferry flights, operating largely empty on the inbound leg and returning with stranded passengers. Airlines and tour operators have been co-ordinating closely with local hotel partners to identify affected guests and organize transfers to airports when seats are available.
Because Cuban airports cannot reliably supply fuel, many of these repatriation flights are planned with special route profiles, including carrying additional fuel from North America and, in some instances, technical stops in neighboring countries. That adds complexity and can lead to rolling delays as aircraft are repositioned and crew schedules adjusted in real time.
On the ground, travelers report a mix of experiences. Some have been notified promptly via tour reps, email, or text messages and given clear instructions. Others have faced information gaps, conflicting messages, or long waits at hotel desks and airport counters. Limited internet connectivity and power outages in parts of the country also make it harder for visitors to check flight status and receive updates.
Experts advise that anyone currently in Cuba stay in close contact with their airline or tour operator, confirm that the company has up-to-date contact details, and avoid independently purchasing new tickets without first understanding what assistance is available. In many cases, carriers are prioritizing original ticket holders for repatriation, and buying an extra one-way fare may not speed up your return.
Alternatives to Cuba: Where Sun-Seekers Are Turning Instead
With Cuba suddenly looking like a far less predictable choice for a beach break, attention is shifting to other Caribbean and Latin American destinations that can absorb displaced demand. Mexico’s resort zones, including Cancún and the Riviera Maya, along with the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana region, are among the biggest beneficiaries as airlines redirect aircraft and tour operators move packages.
Some carriers that have halted or reduced Cuba flights are actively steering travelers to these alternatives, offering no-fee changes to certain destinations within the same region. For example, passengers originally booked to Cuba on select airlines are being allowed to switch to Mexico or the Dominican Republic within a set travel window, subject to availability.
Other Caribbean islands with strong fuel supplies and relatively stable infrastructure, such as Jamaica, Barbados, and the Bahamas, may also see a bump in arrivals as travelers rebook their winter getaways. However, last-minute demand during peak season can drive up prices and limit choice, especially for families seeking specific room types or all-inclusive resorts.
For flexible travelers, shoulder season dates later in spring may offer better availability and more moderate pricing. Those committed to Cuba as a destination might also consider postponing trips until late 2026, when there is at least a chance that fuel supplies and flight schedules will have had time to normalize.
Is It Still Safe and Practical to Travel to Cuba Right Now
Beyond aviation logistics, the fuel crisis is rippling through daily life in Cuba, with reports of power cuts, reduced public transportation, and pressure on essential services. Several governments, including Canada and the United Kingdom, have revised their travel advisories to warn against non-essential trips, citing not only the difficulties of getting in and out of the country but also the risk of disruptions once there.
Travelers considering whether to proceed with upcoming plans must weigh the appeal of a quieter, less crowded destination against the possibility of sudden blackouts, patchy air conditioning, and shortages of fuel-dependent services. In resort areas, major hotels often have generators and contingency plans, but even there, staff and supply chains depend on reliable transport and energy.
For those who do travel, experts recommend building in extra buffers around flights, carrying essential medications and key supplies in hand luggage, and preparing for intermittent connectivity. It is also wise to have a realistic exit plan, including travel insurance that covers disruption due to infrastructure failures and the contact details of your airline and tour operator readily accessible.
In practical terms, many industry analysts suggest that unless travel to Cuba is essential or highly time-sensitive, leisure visitors may be better served by postponing or redirecting their trips until there is clearer evidence that fuel supplies and basic services have stabilized.
What to Watch in the Weeks Ahead
The next pivotal date for the aviation outlook is mid March, when the current notice forecasting a lack of Jet A-1 fuel at Havana and other airports is due to expire. Airlines, tourism boards, and foreign governments will be watching closely to see whether Cuban authorities extend the advisory, quietly relax it, or announce new fuel arrangements that could allow a phased restoration of service.
Carriers such as Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Sunwing, and Air France have all signaled that any timetable for resuming normal operations will depend on clear, verifiable assurances that fuel is available and that the risk of renewed disruption is low. Given the complexity of sourcing and transporting aviation fuel under tight sanctions and economic strain, most analysts expect a cautious, step-by-step approach rather than an immediate return to pre-crisis schedules.
For travelers, that means continued vigilance. If you are booked to Cuba beyond April, you should monitor airline advisories and government travel updates, but avoid making non-refundable add-on purchases until there is greater clarity. Those still hoping to book new trips for late spring or summer may want to keep flexible options open in alternative destinations in case the crisis persists longer than local officials hope.
What is already clear is that Cuba’s fuel emergency has transformed the island’s tourism outlook for 2026. The suspension of flights by marquee carriers has underscored how fragile global connectivity can be when energy supply lines falter, and it has forced travelers and airlines alike to rethink their plans for the season ahead.