Cuba’s deepening aviation fuel crisis has triggered a cascade of flight suspensions, with Russian carriers now joining a growing list of airlines forced to halt regular services to the Caribbean nation. In a rapidly evolving situation, Russia is organizing evacuation flights to bring its citizens home from Cuban resorts before suspending scheduled operations indefinitely, underscoring how the island’s fuel shortages and geopolitical pressures are converging to reshape regional travel.
Russian Airlines Switch to Evacuation Mode
Russia’s federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsia, confirmed on February 11 that two major Russian carriers, Rossiya Airlines and Nordwind Airlines, will temporarily suspend their routes to Cuba after completing a series of outbound-only flights to repatriate tourists. These operations, often referred to as ferry or evacuation flights, will depart Moscow empty, collect passengers in Cuban destinations such as Havana, Varadero, Holguín and Cayo Coco, and then return directly to Russia.
Rossiya, part of the Aeroflot Group, announced that it would operate only a limited number of flights from Havana and Varadero back to Moscow in the coming days before its Cuba schedule is paused. Nordwind has outlined a similar plan, stating that from February 12 onward, its flights from Cuban resort airports will be dedicated exclusively to returning travelers already on the island. Once these evacuation missions are complete, normal commercial services will be frozen until reliable refueling can be guaranteed.
Rosaviatsia indicated that the decision was driven by “difficulties with refueling aircraft in Cuba,” a reference to the island’s inability to supply Jet A-1 aviation fuel to foreign carriers. Russian authorities say they are in close contact with Cuban civil aviation officials and exploring alternative routing or refueling options, but for now, the costs and logistical complexities of operating long-haul flights to a country that cannot refuel international aircraft have proved prohibitive.
The suspension is a significant setback for Cuba’s tourism industry, which has long marketed its beaches and all-inclusive resorts to Russian travelers as an alternative to Mediterranean destinations. For Russian passengers, the abrupt halt adds a new layer of uncertainty to holiday planning, as routes that only recently were expanding are now being pared back to emergency repatriation services.
A Fuel Crisis Years in the Making
The immediate cause of the Russian suspensions lies in a nationwide aviation fuel shortage that Cuban officials formally acknowledged in recent days. Notices to air missions (NOTAMs) issued out of Havana’s José Martí International Airport indicate that Jet A-1 fuel would not be available for purchase at nine international airports across the island starting February 10, with the restrictions currently expected to remain in place until at least March 11.
This technical announcement reflects a much broader energy crisis. Cuba has for years relied heavily on discounted oil shipments from political allies such as Venezuela, supplemented by supplies from Mexico and other partners. A tightening U.S. pressure campaign has targeted those supply lines, with Washington threatening tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that continue to export fuel to the island. The policy shift followed a U.S. operation in early January that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power, effectively cutting off one of Cuba’s primary sources of crude.
As oil imports dwindled, Cuba’s domestic fuel reserves came under intense strain. Blackouts became more frequent, public transportation services were curtailed, and long queues formed at gasoline stations. Aviation fuel, a refined product that must be carefully managed and imported, soon fell into critical short supply. While Cuban authorities have weathered periodic energy crunches in the past, aviation specialists say that the current blanket notice covering virtually all major international airports is unprecedented in its scope and duration.
For the global airline industry, the message is clear: aircraft cannot count on refueling in Cuban territory in the coming weeks. Airlines must either “tanker” extra fuel from their departure points, arrange technical stops in neighboring countries, or suspend services altogether. Each of these solutions carries financial and logistical costs that are forcing tough choices, particularly for carriers operating narrow commercial margins on leisure routes.
Evacuations and Travel Disruptions for Russian Tourists
For Russian visitors already in Cuba when the crisis escalated, the sudden shift from holiday mode to evacuation planning has been jarring. Russian media estimate that several thousand Russian tourists are currently staying at Cuban resorts, many of them having booked package holidays that combine flights, hotel stays, and transfers through tour operators aligned with Rossiya and Nordwind.
Russian officials stress that these travelers are not in immediate physical danger, but they acknowledge that the fuel crisis is affecting basic services across the island. Some resort complexes have consolidated guests into fewer facilities to reduce power consumption and staffing requirements. Public transport options between airports and hotels have become less reliable as bus fleets grapple with diesel shortages, and locals as well as tourists are reporting extended lines for fuel and sporadic power cuts in urban areas.
The evacuation flights aim to provide an orderly exit before conditions deteriorate further or become too complex to manage logistically. Passengers are being advised to stay in close contact with their tour operators and airlines, which are prioritizing those with imminent return dates or special needs. In some cases, departure times are being moved forward or consolidated, with travelers rebooked onto fewer, larger flights to maximize capacity.
These emergency schedules are also designed to minimize the need for in-country refueling. Russian aircraft are expected to depart from Moscow with sufficient fuel reserves to complete the round trip or to make technical stops in third countries for refueling on the way back. Such workarounds raise operating costs, and airlines are unwilling to maintain them for regular commercial services without clarity on when Cuban fuel supplies will normalize.
Global Airline Pullback from Cuba
The Russian evacuation plans come on the heels of similar announcements from carriers based in other countries. Air Canada was among the first major international airlines to suspend scheduled service to Cuba, citing the same aviation fuel shortage and indicating that as of February 10, fuel would not be commercially available at Cuban airports. The Canadian airline has pivoted to operating empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers already at destinations such as Varadero and Cayo Coco and return them home.
Other carriers have chosen a hybrid approach rather than outright suspension. Several European airlines, including Spanish operators with strong ties to Cuban tourism, have announced technical refueling stops in nearby countries such as the Dominican Republic or Mexico’s Cancun. These reroutings allow flights to continue serving Havana and key resort hubs, but with extended travel times and additional costs, which could eventually be passed on to consumers or lead to reduced capacity.
Regional airlines within Latin America are also adapting. Some are tankering extra fuel from home bases, while others are trimming their schedules or combining flights. Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa, which normally operates a triangular Caracas–Havana–Managua route frequently used by Cuban and Venezuelan travelers, has temporarily suspended that link and is rescheduling flights over a short window as it navigates both the fuel crunch and new migration rules in Central America.
Collectively, these moves amount to a rapid contraction of Cuba’s international air connectivity. Aviation analysts warn that if the crisis persists beyond the current mid-March horizon indicated in official notices, more airlines could follow Air Canada and the Russian carriers in suspending regular operations outright. That would complicate not only tourism flows but also the movement of Cuban residents, migrant corridors, and the delivery of cargo and humanitarian supplies.
Geopolitics Behind the Fuel Shortage
While the disruption is playing out in airports and on departure boards, its roots lie squarely in a sharp escalation of geopolitical tensions. The U.S. administration has framed its new measures as a response to what it describes as Cuba’s support for anti-American actors in the region and its historic alliance with the former Venezuelan leadership. By declaring Cuba an “extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and explicitly targeting the island’s oil imports, Washington has shifted from a more traditional embargo to an energy-focused pressure campaign.
The capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro in a U.S.-backed operation in early January was a turning point. The fall of Maduro’s government not only removed a political ally from Havana’s corner, it also abruptly ended subsidized oil shipments that had underpinned Cuba’s energy balance for years. In the immediate aftermath, Mexico briefly stepped in as an alternative supplier, but faced with the prospect of punitive tariffs and strained bilateral ties, it too curtailed fuel deliveries.
Russia has publicly condemned the U.S. oil blockade and signaled solidarity with Havana, but it has limited room for maneuver. Already under extensive Western sanctions of its own and deeply engaged in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Moscow’s ability to provide large volumes of fuel or financial support to Cuba is constrained. Instead, its role has shifted to that of an affected stakeholder, forced to suspend airline services to protect its citizens while continuing diplomatic overtures and symbolic gestures of support.
The human impact of these power plays is being felt most acutely on the ground in Cuba, where ordinary citizens are confronting shortages of fuel, food, and basic goods as the country’s fragile economy absorbs shock after shock. For international travelers, including Russian and Canadian tourists, the crisis is a stark reminder that global politics can intrude quickly and decisively on even the most carefully planned winter getaway.
Tourism and Local Communities Under Strain
Tourism has long served as a critical pillar of Cuba’s economy, generating hard currency, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, and providing an economic lifeline during periods of domestic hardship and external pressure. The current aviation fuel crisis threatens to undercut that vital sector just as the island was seeking to rebuild visitor numbers after the pandemic-era collapse.
Russian and Canadian visitors have become particularly important to the Cuban tourism mix in recent years. As some European markets softened and U.S. travel remained restricted, arrivals from Moscow and Canadian cities helped fill hotel rooms and sustain resort economies in Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín, and other coastal enclaves. The abrupt pullback by Russian and Canadian carriers will leave gaps that may be difficult to fill quickly, especially during what is traditionally peak winter season for Caribbean travel.
For local communities dependent on tourism income, the knock-on effects are already emerging. Hotel workers, taxi drivers, guides, restaurant staff, and owners of private homestays are reporting cancellations and a slowdown in new bookings as news of flight suspensions spreads. Even tourists who remain on the island are spending less in some cases, wary of potential cash shortages or focused on securing their travel home.
The Cuban government has responded by consolidating tourists into fewer hotels and reallocating limited resources to maintain basic services in key tourism zones. While such measures can stretch supplies in the short term, they raise difficult questions about how long the sector can withstand continued isolation from its major source markets. If the aviation fuel shortage persists beyond the current one-month horizon, some analysts warn that tour operators abroad may start redirecting long-term capacity and marketing efforts to rival Caribbean destinations, further complicating Cuba’s recovery.
What Travelers Should Expect in the Coming Weeks
For travelers with upcoming plans to visit Cuba, the evolving situation calls for close monitoring and flexibility. Those who booked flights with affected Russian or Canadian carriers can expect refunds, credits, or rebookings, though processing times may vary depending on the volume of changes and the policies of individual airlines and tour companies. Passengers should carefully review the latest statements from their carriers and stay alert to schedule updates, which may arrive with little notice.
Even airlines that continue operating to Cuba are likely to adjust flight times, routings, and frequencies as they grapple with the constraints of technical stops and fuel tankering. Longer travel durations, altered connection windows, and potential last-minute cancellations are all realistic scenarios during the current crisis period. Travelers who still intend to go should allow extra time for connections and consider purchasing flexible or refundable fares when possible.
On the ground in Cuba, tourists should be prepared for intermittent disruptions to transportation and services. Long-distance bus schedules may be reduced, domestic flights could be limited, and taxi and rideshare options may be more expensive or harder to secure due to fuel rationing. Hotels and resorts may also adjust amenities to conserve energy, impacting everything from air conditioning hours to entertainment offerings.
Travel insurance that covers trip interruption and cancellation due to unforeseen events may offer some protection, though travelers should carefully read policy exclusions related to political actions or embargoes. Above all, maintaining regular communication with airlines, tour operators, and consular services will be key for anyone currently in Cuba or planning a trip while the fuel crisis and associated flight suspensions continue.
Uncertain Outlook for Cuba’s Air Connectivity
As Russia’s evacuation flights get underway and its regular services are suspended, Cuba finds itself confronting a deeply uncertain future for its air links with the outside world. Much will depend on whether Havana can secure alternative fuel supplies or negotiate some easing of the external pressures that have choked off its oil imports. Until that happens, airlines will be cautious about committing aircraft and crews to routes where fuel availability cannot be guaranteed.
Industry observers note that aviation networks are slow to rebuild once they have been dismantled. Even if Jet A-1 supplies return to Cuban airports in March or shortly thereafter, carriers that have redeployed aircraft to other markets may be reluctant to rush back, particularly if geopolitical tensions remain high. Seasonal schedules, crew training, maintenance planning, and commercial agreements with tour operators all take time to restore.
For Russian travelers in particular, the suspension of Rossiya and Nordwind services severs a hard-won corridor that had allowed them to bypass Western hubs and travel directly to Cuba. Whether that connection can be fully reestablished will hinge not only on fuel supplies, but also on the broader arc of Russia’s relations with Western countries, the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine, and the willingness of Russian airlines to absorb higher operating costs in a volatile environment.
For now, the priority remains getting stranded travelers home safely and managing the fallout for Cuba’s tourism sector and local communities. As evacuation flights depart and airport departure boards thin, Cuba’s skies tell a stark story of how energy, politics, and tourism are tightly intertwined, and how swiftly a fuel shortage in a small island nation can ripple out to affect travelers and airlines half a world away.