Worldwide airways are suspending flights to Cuba because the nation continues to face a worsening gas scarcity. Because of this, Canada and the UK have each issued authorities advisories warning their residents towards unessential journey to the Caribbean island.
The gas disaster started after US authorities instituted a blockade towards Venezuela’s oil shipments to Cuba, chopping off a good portion of the island’s provide. The scenario escalated on February 9, when Cuban aviation officers introduced the nation was operating out of jet gas.
Because of this, airways can now not refuel in Cuba, main a number of Canadian carriers to cancel their flights to the island. Air Canada and Air Transat have each briefly halted flights to Cuba till no less than Could 1, 2026. WestJet has additionally suspended its Cuba-bound providers, however has not but introduced when flights would possibly resume.
All three Canadian airways are issuing computerized refunds to vacationers with canceled flights. For patrons already in Cuba, the carriers have been in a position to organize particular flights for his or her return journeys. The final of these departed on February 18.
Which airways are nonetheless working flights to Cuba?
US airways, together with American Airways, Southwest, and Delta, are presently working their flights to Havana and different locations on the island as typical. That is as a result of most US flights to Cuba are operated out of Florida, which is a brief sufficient distance for the planes to make it there and again with no need to refuel.
Southwest Airways continues to function one flight per day from Florida to Havana. “As a result of present standing of aviation gas in Cuba, Southwest Airways is requiring plane that fly to Havana to hold sufficient gas to additionally fly to their subsequent vacation spot,” a spokesperson tells Traveler by way of e-mail. “Nothing is extra essential to Southwest than the Security of our Prospects and Staff.”
Mexico Metropolis-based provider Aeromexico additionally continues to function its flights to Cuba for related causes. Spanish airline Iberia will proceed to fly its Madrid-to-Havana route by including a refueling cease within the Dominican Republic; the provider additionally issued a journey waiver so passengers can delay their journey dates via the tip of March at no further cost.
Is it secure to journey to Cuba proper now?
Other than jet gas shortages, Cuba is experiencing lengthy traces for gasoline and frequent energy outages on account of the US oil blockade. In lots of components of the nation, important infrastructure shouldn’t be steady, which has led nations like Canada and the UK to advise their residents to keep away from journey to Cuba if potential.
An alert from the US Embassy in Cuba warns US vacationers of the gas shortages and advises them to be ready for extended energy outages. Nonetheless, the US State Division has maintained its routine Stage 2: Train Elevated Warning journey advisory initially issued in Could 2025.
“Keep away from non-essential journey to Cuba resulting from worsening shortages of gas, electrical energy, and fundamental requirements together with meals, water, and medication,” the Canadian authorities stated in a journey alert final up to date on February 19. “These shortages also can have an effect on providers at resorts. Gas availability has decreased, is tough to foretell, and will disrupt floor transportation.” The advisory notes that although some flights are nonetheless out there, airlift may change into restricted on brief discover, and vacationers “ought to think about leaving whereas choices stay out there.”
Equally, the UK is warning its residents that energy outages in Cuba would possibly “considerably have an effect on the flexibility of holiday makers to entry dependable transport, medical care, communications, and fundamental providers,” per a February 19 journey warning from the UK’s Overseas, Commonwealth & Growth Workplace. “In case you are presently in Cuba, rigorously think about in case your presence is crucial. Take precautions by conserving gas, water, meals and cell phone cost, and be ready for vital disruption.”
It is a creating information story and will probably be up to date with data.
