Fuel Crisis and Flight Cancellations Cloud Cuba's Tourist Season

HAVANA, Feb 11 – Cuba's vital tourism industry faces an uncertain future as a severe energy crisis, intensified by a recent U.S. oil blockade, forces flight cancellations and emergency government planning. The island's peak tourist season is now under threat.

"The current crisis is unpredictable for tourism," said José Luis Perello, an economist and professor at the University of Havana's Faculty of Tourism. "Without fuel, no tourism activity is possible. The present situation leaves no alternative but to wait. Airlines cannot fly empty planes."

Perello, an author of numerous publications on the subject, suggests the most immediate solution is to consolidate guests into fewer hotels to preserve infrastructure while awaiting an improvement in conditions.

The crisis has already led to action. Major Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, Sunwing, Air Transat, and WestJet, have suspended flights to Cuba. On Monday, Canadian tour operators notified clients of cancelled vacation packages to popular Cuban resorts.

In contrast, Russian carriers Nordwind and Rossiya (part of the Aeroflot group) confirmed they will continue Cuba flights. Rossiya noted routes may be adjusted to include an extra stop for refueling due to the island's acute fuel shortage.

Last week, the Cuban government announced a plan to reduce energy consumption in tourism, focusing on consolidating tourist facilities and maximizing the current high season. Vice Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga stressed the need to sustain industries that generate foreign currency, stating that without income the country cannot overcome the situation. He outlined measures to improve energy efficiency and protect key tourism services.

The economic pressure follows a January 29 executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, authorizing tariffs on oil shipments to Cuba and declaring a national emergency, citing what he called a threat from Cuba to U.S. national security.