Fuel Shortage Grounds Air Canada's Cuba Flights, Stranding Tourists
Air Canada has suspended all flights to Cuba and is working to bring roughly 3,000 customers home, citing a severe shortage of aviation fuel on the island. The cancellation deals a direct blow to Cuba's vital winter tourism season, a key source of foreign currency. The fuel crisis stems from a tightening U.S. oil blockade, which threatens tariffs on any nation supplying Cuba.
The situation escalated rapidly over the weekend. Airlines received an official notice late Sunday warning of restricted fuel supplies until at least March 11, just two days after Cuban authorities assured the public that international flights would continue. The ripple effect is global, impacting carriers from Europe and beyond. Air Europa, for instance, will now refuel in the Dominican Republic, a tactic used during a previous shortage.
While some airlines like Air Transat plan to continue with contingency stops, the disruption is immediate. In Moscow, passengers bound for Cuba were taken off planes and offered alternative holidays. For many Russian tourists, Cuba had been a rare accessible warm-weather destination.
On the ground, the strain is becoming visible. Cuba has begun consolidating tourists into fewer hotels to conserve energy. 'People are very upset because all the workers here just pretty much lost their job,' said Canadian visitor Vicky Volonik. For locals, the crisis hit home Monday as gas stations closed nationwide. A new app-based rationing system for fuel has been called unworkable, leaving many stranded on roadsides.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the U.S. policy as 'very unjust,' stating, 'You can’t strangle a nation in this way.' Mexico sent 800 tons of humanitarian aid and pledged diplomatic efforts to get oil to Cuba, though specifics remain unclear.
Despite the chaos, a semblance of normalcy persists in tourist zones. 'For tourists in hotels, everything is still available,' said tour guide Yekaterina Gulbina. Travel agencies report that current clients are unaffected, though future bookings hang in the balance as the island grapples with the most tangible impact yet of the escalating economic pressure.