Cuba Warns Airlines It Can’t Guarantee Refuelling for International Carriers

Cuban aviation officials warned airlines on Saturday that they can’t guarantee refueling for international carriers following the Trump administration’s move to cut the country off from its fuel resources.

The Cuban government issued notices warning that jet fuel would not be available at nine airports across the country. This includes José Martí International Airport in Havana, starting Tuesday, through March 11.

Political Pressure on Mexico and Venezuela

US President Donald Trump’s political pressure on Venezuela and Mexico effectively cut off Cuba’s primary access to petroleum. Trump signed an executive order in January imposing tariffs on goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba.

Canadian carriers Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat suspended flights to Cuba. Transat said on its website “Due to a jet fuel shortage announced by Cuban authorities and the recent evolution of the situation, Air Transat is temporarily suspending all flights to Cuba until April 30, 2026.”

It added, “Depending on how the situation evolves, flights to Cuba may resume as early as May 1, 2026. Air Transat will continue to closely monitor developments and will provide timely updates as new information becomes available.”

US Airlines Continue Flying to Cuba

It’s a different story for a handful of US airlines flying to Cuba. American Airlines has around 10 daily roundtrip flights between Miami International Airport and Havana. On Monday, American told the Miami Herald that it is “closely monitoring the situation.”

Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines confirmed Wednesday that they are operating their flight schedules without issues despite the ongoing fuel shortage.

Delta operates one daily roundtrip flight between Miami International Airport and José Martí International Airport in Havana. Southwest, on the other hand, operates a single daily flight between Tampa International Airport and Havana.

Delta and Southwest can continue operating in Cuba, unlike their Canadian counterparts, because the distance from Tampa and Miami to Cuba is short. Southwest’s spokesperson said, “Due to the current status of aviation fuel in Cuba, Southwest Airlines is requiring aircraft that fly to Havana to carry enough fuel to also fly to their next destination. The airline currently operates one flight daily to Havana. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”

The US prohibits leisure travel to Cuba; however, it allows travel under 12 authorized categories. These categories include family visits, educational activities, official government business, and more. Americans traveling to Cuba must “self-certify” the category under which they qualify.