Thousands of tourists, predominantly from Canada, have found themselves stranded across Cuba’s sun resorts as major airlines abruptly suspended services amid a crippling aviation fuel shortage that has plunged the island’s tourism sector into chaos.
With over 400 weekly flights potentially disrupted, the coming days promise a logistical scramble as embassies and tour operators mobilise to assist those caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions.
The crisis escalated rapidly after Cuban authorities issued a stark warning late on Sunday, announcing that jet fuel would be unavailable at nine key airports, including Havana’s José Martí International, from the morning until at least 11 March, forcing carriers to halt operations or risk flights without refuelling capabilities.
Air Canada, the nation’s largest airline, confirmed it was dispatching empty aircraft southbound to evacuate approximately 3,000 of its passengers scattered in destinations like Varadero and Holguín, prioritising their safe return while cancelling all future bookings until the situation stabilises.
WestJet, Air Transat, and Sunwing followed suit, extending suspensions through April in some cases, with industry estimates suggesting up to 21,000 Canadians could be affected overall, many of whom had arrived seeking affordable winter escapes only to face uncertainty and potential delays in repatriation.
The fuel dearth stems from intensified United States pressures, including threats of tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba, exacerbating an ongoing energy crisis that has already led to widespread blackouts, halted public transport, and soaring prices for essentials on the communist-led island.
Russian carrier Aeroflot has joined the exodus, cancelling commercial flights until late March and sending empty planes to retrieve around 4,500 of its nationals, while American Airlines and other operators from Europe and Latin America scrambled to adjust routes, incorporating technical stops in third countries or outright cancellations to avoid stranding more visitors.
Stranded travellers reported mounting anxiety at resorts, where power outages and supply shortages compounded the frustration, with some expressing relief at airline pledges for full refunds but others voicing concerns over immediate access to food, water, and communication amid the island’s deteriorating infrastructure.
Countries have updated travel advisories, urging citizens to exercise high caution due to the unpredictable environment, including risks of health issues from unreliable utilities and potential for civil unrest as locals grapple with the same hardships. In Havana, where the public bus system has ground to a virtual standstill and fuel queues stretch for hours, tourism operators lamented the blow to an industry once generating billions in revenue, now facing empty hotels and a projected drop of nearly 18pc in international arrivals compared to last year.
