American travelers bound for Cuba this winter and spring are facing a new and fast moving variable: jet fuel. With Cuban authorities notifying airlines that they cannot supply aviation fuel to foreign carriers until at least mid March 2026, U.S. flights to the island are suddenly under pressure. While planes are still operating for now, the fuel crunch is already reshaping routes, schedules and contingency plans. If you are holding a ticket to Havana, Varadero or Cuba’s resort keys in the coming months, it is time to understand what is happening on the ground and how it could affect your trip.
What Is Happening With Fuel in Cuba Right Now
Cuba is in the midst of a severe energy crisis that has been building for several years and has now spilled decisively into aviation. Imports of crude and refined products from key partners such as Venezuela and Mexico have fallen sharply, leaving the government with fewer barrels to cover power generation, ground transport and jet fuel. Officials have warned repeatedly that there is not enough fuel to meet demand across the economy, and the tourism sector is now feeling the pinch.
In early February 2026, Cuba’s civil aviation authorities issued a notice to airlines stating that Jet A 1 fuel would not be available to foreign carriers at the country’s main international airports from February 10 through at least March 11. That notice effectively told airlines that if they wanted to continue flying to Cuba, they would need to arrive with enough fuel for a round trip or plan a technical stop to refuel in a neighboring country. For carriers that operate tight schedules and rely on predictable refueling at destination airports, this represents a significant operational shock.
The aviation squeeze is layered on top of rolling blackouts, rationed gasoline and diesel sales, and an economy already strained by shortages and inflation. In this context, prioritizing limited fuel supplies becomes a political and economic calculation. Power for hospitals and critical infrastructure, diesel for limited public transport, and fuel oil for aging power plants all compete with the needs of the tourism industry and commercial aviation.
How the Jet Fuel Shortage Emerged
The immediate catalyst for the current disruption is the announcement that Cuban airports cannot supply jet fuel to foreign airlines for at least a month. Behind that short term decision lies a longer story of declining fuel imports, mounting debt and tightening geopolitical pressure. As supplies from traditional allies declined through 2024 and 2025, Cuba found it increasingly difficult to secure spot cargoes on the open market, in part because of sanctions related constraints and limited access to credit.
By late 2025, fuel imports were down by more than a third compared with the previous year, according to shipping data and government reports. Deliveries from Mexico had dropped dramatically and Venezuelan shipments, while still vital, had also fallen. At the same time, the national electric grid was suffering repeated collapses, forcing officials to divert scarce fuel to power plants to avoid politically damaging nationwide blackouts.
Tourism, one of the few sectors that brings in hard currency, had already been buffeted by years of underinvestment, pandemic era closures and a slow return of international visitors. As resorts reopened and airlines rebuilt schedules, they did so atop an energy system that lacked resilience. The current aviation fuel crunch is therefore less an isolated incident and more the consequence of an energy equation that no longer adds up.
Which Airlines and Routes Are Being Hit First
The first visible signs of travel disruption appeared on routes from Canada and Europe, where leisure carriers often operate longer sectors and rely on refueling in Cuba before returning north. At least one major Canadian airline has temporarily suspended regular flights to Cuba, instead sending empty aircraft south to pick up stranded passengers and bring them home. Other Canadian and European carriers have indicated that they will keep flying, but with adjustments such as lower passenger loads or refueling stops in nearby countries.
Non U.S. airlines are a bellwether for what U.S. carriers may experience, because they are dealing with the same physical constraint: an inability to buy jet fuel at Cuban airports. Carriers now have three basic options. They can tanker extra fuel from their departure point to cover the entire round trip, which increases aircraft weight and can limit the number of passengers and amount of baggage they can carry. They can add a technical stop in a third country to refuel, which adds cost and time to the journey. Or they can suspend flights altogether until normal fueling resumes.
For now, most of the schedule changes have focused on minimizing disruption during the immediate crisis window through March 11. Airlines will weigh the cost of workarounds against expected demand, and that calculus may differ by route. High density leisure flights from major Canadian cities to Varadero, for example, might justify an extra refueling stop, while lower demand routes from smaller markets may be paused. This same logic will shape how U.S. carriers adjust their own Cuba networks in the weeks ahead.
What This Means for U.S. Flights in 2026
From the perspective of American travelers, the central question is whether flights from the United States to Havana and other Cuban cities will continue to operate reliably through 2026. The answer, at least in the near term, is that flights are likely to continue but may be more vulnerable to last minute changes. U.S. airlines have experience dealing with fuel constrained destinations and can plan to carry extra fuel from hubs in Florida or other states for short haul runs to and from Cuba.
Short segments from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Tampa to Havana are easier to operate under fuel restrictions than longer haul services from more distant U.S. cities. Aircraft can often depart Florida with enough fuel for the round trip plus legally required reserves without hitting weight limits. That reduces the need for technical stops. However, as the fuel outage stretches on and if it is extended beyond March, the cumulative cost of operating flights under these conditions rises, and airlines may trim frequencies or consolidate services.
Beyond the current month long window, the outlook for the rest of 2026 hinges on whether Cuba can secure additional fuel supplies and stabilize its energy system. Official statements suggest modest improvements in power generation capacity this year thanks to repairs at thermoelectric plants and new solar installations. At the same time, authorities acknowledge that without a steadier flow of imported fuel, blackouts and shortages will persist. That means U.S. airlines will be planning for an environment where sudden constraints on jet fuel could reappear later in the year, particularly during peak travel seasons.
Could Your Cuba Trip Be Canceled
Travelers holding tickets for trips between now and mid March are at the highest immediate risk of schedule changes. Airlines may cancel some flights, consolidate passengers onto fewer services or alter departure times to accommodate refueling stops. In many cases, tickets will be protected, meaning you will be rebooked on a later flight or re routed via another city without additional cost. However, options can be limited on niche routes or close to departure dates, so flexibility is an asset.
For trips later in 2026, the risk is more conditional. If fuel supplies gradually improve and Cuba lifts its restrictions on jet fuel sales to foreign carriers as planned, airlines may quietly revert to normal operations. On the other hand, if the broader energy crisis deepens or sanctions tighten further, future rounds of fuel rationing could once again target aviation. Airlines typically adjust schedules season by season, so a protracted crisis would likely show up in published timetables months in advance, allowing travelers to plan accordingly.
Industry analysts point out that Cuba has strong incentives to keep at least some international flights operating even in difficult conditions. Tourism provides vital foreign exchange earnings and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. Shutting down air links from the United States entirely would be a last resort. More probable is a pattern of uneven service, with some routes maintained, others cut back, and the occasional flurry of last minute changes when fuel supplies tighten unexpectedly.
What Travelers Should Do Before and During Their Trip
If you already have a ticket to Cuba in the coming weeks, the most important step is to stay in close contact with your airline or tour operator. Check your flight status regularly in the days leading up to departure and make sure the carrier has up to date contact information for you. Many airlines are issuing travel advisories that outline flexible rebooking options or fee waivers for passengers who prefer to postpone their trips while the fuel situation stabilizes.
Travelers should also build more resilience into their itineraries. That might mean avoiding tight same day connections on separate tickets, especially on the return journey from Cuba. Allow extra time between flights in case your departure from Havana or another Cuban airport is delayed due to operational issues. If you are traveling for a cruise, a tour departure or an important event, consider arriving at least a day early rather than planning to land the same day your plans begin.
On the ground in Cuba, fuel shortages and blackouts can affect everything from airport transfers to hotel operations. Public transport is under strain, and taxis often face gasoline rationing or long queues at filling stations. Choose accommodations with a track record of handling power cuts, such as larger hotels and resorts that have backup generators. Be prepared for intermittent outages of air conditioning or internet, and pack essentials like a power bank and small flashlight just in case.
Alternative Destinations and Backup Plans
For some travelers, especially those with limited flexibility or traveling with young children or elderly relatives, the current uncertainty may make alternative Caribbean destinations more appealing in the short term. Nearby islands such as the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are not facing comparable fuel related aviation restrictions and offer similar beach and resort experiences. If your primary goal is sun and sand rather than a specific interest in Cuba’s culture and history, a temporary pivot could spare you logistical headaches.
That does not mean Cuba should drop off your travel map entirely. Many repeat visitors and Cuba specialists are choosing to postpone rather than cancel, moving trips to later in 2026 or early 2027 in the hope that the fuel situation improves. If you booked through a tour operator, ask about the possibility of shifting dates or applying payments to a future departure. Independent travelers with flexible tickets should review fare rules to understand change penalties and any waivers introduced because of the fuel crisis.
For those committed to traveling to Cuba this year despite the risks, having a robust backup plan is essential. Consider travel insurance that covers trip interruption and airline schedule changes. Keep a reserve of funds to cover extra hotel nights or rebooked flights if disruptions occur. Share your itinerary with someone at home and maintain a communication plan in case connectivity on the island is unstable during blackouts.
Looking Ahead: Will Cuba’s Fuel Troubles Ease
Cuban officials have signaled that they expect some improvement in overall energy conditions in 2026 as repaired power plants come back online and new renewable capacity is added. However, those gains are contingent on securing consistent fuel supplies, which remains uncertain. The country’s main suppliers are grappling with their own production limits and policy choices, while Cuba faces ongoing financial constraints and sanctions that make it difficult to buy fuel on standard commercial terms.
Even under optimistic scenarios, analysts and local experts expect blackouts and fuel tightness to continue, especially during periods of high demand. That means aviation fuel will remain a sensitive commodity. When supplies tighten, authorities may again prioritize electricity generation and essential services over selling jet fuel to foreign carriers. The current suspension of jet fuel availability through March 11 should therefore be seen less as an isolated shock and more as a signal of structural fragility that could flare up again.
For travelers, the practical takeaway is to treat Cuba in 2026 as a rewarding but higher risk destination from a logistical standpoint. The island’s culture, music, architecture and beaches remain as compelling as ever, and many visitors will complete their journeys with only minor inconveniences. Yet the underlying fuel and power constraints raise the odds of flight changes, delays and on the ground disruptions compared with more stable destinations. Planning with that reality in mind will help ensure that if your Cuba trip does go ahead, it is memorable for the right reasons.