By Blessing Nweke
Cuban aviation authorities have warned airlines that jet fuel will not be available at nine airports across the island beginning Tuesday, in a dramatic escalation of the country’s worsening energy crisis. The notice, published Sunday night, affects key hubs including José Martí International Airport in Havana and is expected to remain in place through March 11.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Cuba, effectively severing its access to major petroleum suppliers in Venezuela and Mexico. In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, further tightening fuel supplies to the Caribbean nation.
While shorter regional routes may avoid major disruptions, long-haul flights from countries such as Russia and Canada face significant challenges. Tourism, a cornerstone of Cuba’s fragile economy that once generated roughly $3 billion annually, could suffer another blow. Air Canada said Monday it would suspend flights to the island, while other carriers announced delays and refueling stops in the Dominican Republic or Mexico.
A pilot familiar with operations in Cuba described the scale of the notice as extraordinary, even for a country accustomed to recurring shortages. During similar cuts more than a decade ago, flights to Europe refueled in Nassau, Bahamas.
Beyond aviation, the fuel crisis is rippling across the island. Authorities have reduced bank hours, suspended cultural events and curtailed bus and train services. Gasoline sales are now limited to 20 liters per customer and must be paid for in U.S. dollars.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the strain in a televised address Thursday, warning that additional measures may follow as the crisis unfolds.
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