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Cuban aviation authorities have warned international airlines that jet fuel will not be available for refueling at several airports across the country. The notice marks a major escalation in Cuba’s ongoing energy rationing efforts.
Officials confirmed that starting Tuesday and lasting until March 11, refueling services will be unavailable at nine airports, including Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. Airlines and pilots received the notification late Sunday.
US Pressure Cuts Off Key Fuel Supplies
The fuel shortage follows renewed political pressure from the United States under President Donald Trump. Recent US measures have significantly limited Cuba’s access to petroleum supplies from long time partners Venezuela and Mexico.
In late January, Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba. The move has further tightened fuel flows to an island already struggling with a severe energy crisis.
International Flights Disrupted
While short regional routes may continue with minimal disruption, long haul flights face serious challenges. Routes from countries such as Canada and Russia are particularly affected, raising concerns for Cuba’s tourism sector.
Air Canada announced on Monday that it is suspending flights to Cuba. Other airlines reported delays or added layovers in the Dominican Republic before continuing on to Havana.
A pilot familiar with Cuban operations said fuel issues are not new, but an official nationwide notice of this scale is highly unusual.
Alternative Refueling Routes Considered
During similar shortages more than a decade ago, aircraft bound for Europe refueled in Nassau in the Bahamas. This time, some regional airlines may carry additional fuel, while others could refuel in Cancun or the Dominican Republic.
Cuban authorities have not said whether the restrictions could extend beyond March 11.
Tourism and Daily Life Take Another Hit
The aviation fuel shortage is the latest blow to Cuba’s tourism industry, which once generated about three billion dollars annually and remains a critical source of foreign income.
The government also announced reduced banking hours and the suspension of cultural events. Public bus services in Havana have largely stopped, leaving residents stranded as fuel lines grow longer and power outages intensify.
Major events such as the Havana International Book Fair have been suspended, and the national baseball season is being reorganized to cut energy use.
Fuel distributors said gasoline will no longer be sold in Cuban pesos. Purchases will be limited to 20 liters per person and paid for in US dollars.
A Deepening National Emergency
On Thursday, President Miguel Diaz Canel addressed the nation in a lengthy televised speech, acknowledging the severity of the situation and warning that additional measures were imminent.
US sanctions on Cuba have existed for more than sixty years, but pressure has increased sharply in recent months. Many Cubans now face power outages lasting up to ten hours, widespread fuel shortages, and growing difficulty accessing food and medicine. Some compare the situation to the Special Period economic crisis of the 1990s.
