U.S. oil squeeze disrupts commercial aviation to Cuba as airlines adjust operations

The Trump administration’s renewed economic pressure on Cuba is beginning to disrupt commercial aviation to the island, as fuel shortages force airlines to cancel flights or seek refuelling alternatives outside the country.

Following Washington’s move to cut off Cuba from Venezuelan oil supplies and threaten tariffs on countries that ship fuel to the island, Cuban authorities issued a Notice to Aviation (NOTAM) warning that jet fuel availability would be restricted until at least mid-March. Airlines were informed that refuelling in Cuba could no longer be guaranteed.

The immediate impact has been on carriers operating long-haul services. Air Canada suspended all flights to Cuba and began repatriating thousands of passengers already in the country. Other airlines serving Havana and resort destinations have implemented contingency measures, including technical stops in third countries to refuel before or after landing in Cuba.

European operators, which faced a similar fuel crisis last year, have again adjusted flight planning to include stops in nearby markets such as the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas or Mexico. Russian carriers, operating ultra-long-haul routes to the Caribbean, have also indicated they may alter routings to accommodate refuelling needs.

Cuba’s aviation fuel crisis comes as part of a wider energy shortage triggered by the tightening of U.S. sanctions and the effective halt of Venezuelan oil deliveries. The island’s government has introduced rationing measures to preserve essential services and reduce fuel consumption across sectors, including tourism.

For airlines, the restrictions complicate scheduling, increase operating costs and reduce aircraft utilization. Technical stops add flight time, crew costs and logistical complexity, particularly on long-haul sectors that were previously operated nonstop.

The measures form part of a strategy by President Donald Trump aimed at increasing economic pressure on Cuba’s communist government, which has been in power for nearly seven decades. U.S. officials have framed the sanctions as a means to force political concessions, while critics describe them as an attempt to weaken or ultimately dislodge the current regime in Havana.

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