Air Canada suspends all flights to Cuba as island runs out of aviation fuel
Cuba's aviation fuel shortage, linked to U.S. oil restrictions, has forced Air Canada to halt 16 weekly flights and repatriate approximately 3,000 Canadian tourists.
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Air Canada announced Monday that it was suspending all flights to Cuba effective immediately after Cuban authorities notified airlines that the island would run out of aviation fuel, part of an energy crisis triggered by U.S. restrictions on oil access to the Caribbean nation.
The airline said it had suspended its 16 weekly flights to four Cuban cities: Havana and three others. Air Canada cited government advisories about the unreliability of aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports as the reason for the decision.
According to Air Canada, aviation fuel is projected to be unavailable for commercial use at Cuban airports as of February 10. The airline said its immediate priority is to return customers already in Cuba to Canada. Over the following days, Air Canada will operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers currently on the island and bring them back.
For any remaining flights needed to complete the repatriation, Air Canada said its aircraft will carry additional fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey. The airline's winter seasonal flights are canceled for the remainder of the season, while year-round scheduled flights are suspended with a provisional resumption date of May 1, pending review.
Canada is the top source of tourists to Cuba, and the island's beaches represent a major source of hard currency for the Cuban government during winter months.
The fuel shortage stems from the Trump administration's strict measures that have largely cut off Cuba's access to foreign oil. The U.S. has threatened any country that sends oil to Cuba with increased tariffs, citing national security concerns and claiming the island's government is a threat to U.S. interests.
Other international airlines serving Cuba have also been affected by the shortage. Russian airlines initially said their flights would continue as usual, though Russian media reported that at least one Rossiya Airlines flight was canceled Monday, with an empty plane flown to Cuba to pick up Russian tourists. Airlines from China, Turkey, France, and Spain have also been impacted by the crisis.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the U.S. policy on Monday, describing it as "very unfair."