Cuba signals month-long jet fuel unavailability at nine airports, raising risks of flight cancellations and detours

What Cuba has communicated to airlines

Cuba has issued operational aviation notices indicating that Jet A-1 fuel will not be commercially available for aircraft refueling at nine international airports beginning February 10, 2026, with the restriction set to last until at least March 11, 2026. The affected airports include the country’s main gateway in Havana as well as key tourism and regional hubs such as Varadero, Santa Clara, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Cayo Coco.

Jet A-1 is the standard fuel used in commercial aviation. A sustained inability to refuel on arrival alters flight planning because aircraft must either carry additional fuel, schedule technical refueling stops outside Cuba, or cancel services altogether when operational or safety margins cannot be maintained.

Immediate impacts on international travel

Airlines serving Cuba have begun adjusting schedules and operations. Air Canada announced a suspension of service to Cuba tied to the fuel shortage and said it would operate non-revenue flights to bring home roughly 3,000 customers already on the island. Other carriers have indicated they may continue flying while relying on contingency measures such as tankering fuel in and refueling in third countries for return segments.

Operational changes are expected to vary by airline and aircraft type, since longer stage lengths, payload constraints, and reserve-fuel requirements can make “carry extra fuel” strategies impractical. Even when flights continue, technical stops can extend travel times and reduce schedule reliability, complicating onward connections and tour-operator planning.

Why the jet-fuel shortage matters beyond airports

The aviation constraint arrives amid a broader energy crunch that has already been disrupting daily life and economic activity on the island. Limits on jet fuel intersect directly with tourism, one of Cuba’s most important sources of hard-currency revenue. Reduced flight capacity or irregular operations can ripple quickly through hotel occupancy, ground transportation demand, and the ability of local businesses to serve visitors.

Air service also supports family travel and time-sensitive cargo movement. When passenger services are cut back, seat availability tightens and fares can rise on remaining capacity, while cargo that typically rides in aircraft bellies may need to be rerouted or delayed.

What travelers and the region should watch next

• Airline advisories and schedule changes for February–March 2026, including whether carriers add refueling stops in nearby countries.

• Whether the fuel unavailability period is shortened, extended, or applied unevenly by airport as supplies fluctuate.

• How sustained disruptions affect peak-season travel demand, particularly from Canada and European markets that traditionally account for large shares of arrivals.

With refueling constrained at multiple gateways through at least March 11, the practical outcome for travelers is a higher likelihood of cancellations, longer routings, and last-minute operational adjustments.

For passengers, the most consequential near-term variable is how individual airlines choose to manage fuel risk—through suspension, technical stops, or reduced schedules—while the island’s aviation fuel availability remains uncertain.