Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba due to fuel shortage

"Air Canada has said it is suspending service to Cuba due to an ongoing aviation fuel shortage on the island. Air Canada took the decision following advisories issued by governments about the unreliability of aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports, the airline said in a press release on Monday. It is projected that, as of February 10, aviation fuel will not be commercially available at airports on the island."

"The airline said its immediate priority is to return customers already in Cuba to Canada. Over the following days, the airline will operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers already at destination and return them home, Air Canada said. The carrier currently operates an average of 16 weekly flights to four destinations in Cuba. Seasonal flights to Holguin and Santa Clara have been cancelled, while flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are scheduled to operate year-round,"

Air Canada has suspended service to Cuba because aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports is unreliable and projected to be unavailable from February 10. The airline will prioritize returning customers already in Cuba and will operate empty southbound flights over the coming days to collect roughly 3,000 passengers. Remaining flights will carry additional fuel and may make technical refuelling stops on return legs. The carrier runs about 16 weekly flights to four Cuban destinations; seasonal routes to Holguin and Santa Clara are cancelled while Varadero and Cayo Coco are scheduled year-round with a tentative May 1 restart. A NOTAM warns Jet A1 will be unavailable at multiple airports through March 11, and the government has closed some low-occupancy hotels. Cuba has not received fuel shipments from Venezuela since mid-December.

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