Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba as Cuban airport warns it will run out of jet fuel
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Air Canada says it will suspend operations to Cuba from Monday as the Caribbean island’s main airport warns it will run out of jet fuel.
In the following days, the airline will fly empty planes to pick up about 3,000 customers already in Cuba and bring them home, Air Canada said Monday in a news release.
“Air Canada made this decision following government advisories (NOTAMs) regarding the unreliable availability of jet fuel at Cuban airports,” the statement read.
“On the remaining flights, Air Canada will put on an additional fuel tank and stop where necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary.”
Air Canada announced that seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara have been canceled for the rest of the season, and that flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are scheduled to operate year-round but are currently suspended “with a resumption, pending update, on May 1.”
In an official notice called the NOTAM posted on the website of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday, JOsé Martí International Airport is warning “Jet A1 fuel is not available” from Tuesday, and the warning will continue until March 11.
A NOTAM, or “notice to airmen,” is an official notification which contains information important to personnel related to the operation of the aircraft, according to the FAA. The Havana airport NOTAM is classified as “international,” meaning it is intended to be viewed by many countries.
This comes days after the Canadian federal government issued a travel advisory for Cuba, warning that continued fuel shortages could disrupt resorts and flights.
in Cuba it has historically relied on Venezuela to supply most of its jet fuel, as Reuters reports, but the Caribbean island nation has not received crude or refined products from its top allies since mid-December, when the US moved to block sales to the South American country.
Now, several Canadian airlines have issued their Cuba travel warnings or are using flexible cancellation options. Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Sunwing have all announced flexible rebooking or cancellation options.
WestJet, in its announcement, cited a “power outage” as the reason for its advisory on all flights to and from Cuba from Sunday to Feb. 26, 2026.
The federal government has updated its travel advisories for Cuba, warning Canadians planning to travel to the island of fuel and food shortages. McKenzie MacMillan, CEO of The Travel Group, says she was not surprised to hear the warning.
In a statement sent to CBC News, WestJet, which owns Sunwing, said it is focused on the safety of its guests.
“It is also important to note that all WestJet flights arrive in Cuba with sufficient fuel to depart Cuba safely,” the airline added.
In addition, Transat noted that several resorts in Cuba are temporarily closed “due to low occupancy rates,” and is allowing affected customers to c.list the date, hotel, or location of their trip without penalty.
“Air Transat, like other cargo companies, has been notified by the Cuban authorities of the temporary suspension of fueling at the country’s airports,” the airline wrote in a statement Monday morning.
However, it added, the airline still plans to operate the flights as scheduled.
The trip has been cancelled
Kim Darby of Burlington, Ont., told CBC News Air Canada went a step further and canceled her upcoming flight to Cayo Santa Maria. It would be his seventh trip to Cuba, where Darby enjoyed fishing for bonefish on the flats.
“The beaches are nice, and the people are nice. I don’t need fancy food,” Darby, 71, told CBC News.
Darby says he booked his two-week trip on Dec. 23. He and his wife were scheduled to leave on March 27. On Thursday, Air Canada Vacations emailed Darby that their flight had been canceled, without giving a specific reason.
CBC News has reviewed the email. In travel forums, some Air Canada customers said the company had canceled their Cuba trip.
Darby says they rebooked their vacation in Negril, Jamaica, without penalty, even though they have to pay the difference, since Negril is more expensive.
“There is probably no fishing there, but we will have a good break for two weeks,” he said.
Although Darby and his wife were disappointed with their trip to Santa Maria, he added that they don’t want Cuba to prioritize its limited resort facilities.
“If there is a shortage of fuel and food, it should go to the people. Tourists can go to other places.”
