Russia Suspends Flights to Cuba Amid Jet Fuel Shortages
What happened
Russian airlines Rossiya (part of the Aeroflot group) and Nordwind have had to reshuffle schedules after running into trouble finding jet fuel in Cuba. Rossiya will fly a few one-way trips from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to bring tourists home, then pause its Cuba program until fuel becomes more reliable. Russian transport officials are in contact with Cuban aviation counterparts and are exploring ways to restore normal two-way service.
Why the fuel squeeze
A recent U.S. move declared a national emergency over Cuba and opened the door to penalties on countries that supply oil to the island. New measures let authorities impose tariffs and other restrictions on entities tied to Cuba’s fuel imports, and those actions have tightened the island’s access to Jet A-1 fuel for aircraft. The timing of those steps appears to have contributed to the spot shortages now affecting airline operations.
How this affects travelers
A Notice to Airmen flags that Jet A-1 fuel is not available at nine Cuban airports — including Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo — through March 11. Expect possible cancellations, last-minute reroutes or outbound-only repatriation flights while the situation is sorted. Pack patience along with your sunscreen: airlines are running limited return trips for now and officials are working on fixes, so travel plans may be shuffled until fuel supplies stabilize.