Varadero Beach in Cuba. Credit: Emmanuel Huybrechts / Creative Commons
Travellers considering a trip to Cuba have been warned of possible flight disruptions after the Cuban Government confirmed a nationwide shortage of aviation fuel affecting all international airports on the island.
According to information confirmed on February 9, Cuban authorities issued an official NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) stating that from this week the country has no Jet A1 fuel available, blaming the situation on what it describes as the United States’ oil blockade.
Aviation fuel unavailable across Cuba
The NOTAM, addressed to pilots and air traffic controllers, specifies that the kerosene shortage affects every international airport in Cuba. The notice is valid for one month, from February 10 until March 11.
The message, coded as “JET A1 FUEL NOT AVBL”, is currently listed in the database of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), confirming that aviation fuel is not available at any Cuban international airport.
Major Cuban airports and routes impacted
Airports affected include José Martí in Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo, covering the entire island from west to east.
So far, airlines most affected — mainly from the United States, Spain, Panama and Mexico — have not publicly detailed how they will manage the situation, although changes to routes, schedules and frequencies are expected in the short term.
Airlines may reroute to refuel abroad
This type of disruption is not unprecedented in Cuba. During similar fuel shortages in the 1990s “special period” and more recent supply bottlenecks, airlines adapted by adding refuelling stopovers in countries such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic.
Most international flights connect Cuba with Florida cities including Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, as well as Madrid, Panama City and several destinations in Mexico.
Tourism already under severe strain
Cuba also maintains regular air links with Bogotá, Santo Domingo and Caracas, among other Latin American capitals, all of which could be affected if the fuel shortage persists.
The announcement represents another blow to Cuba’s struggling tourism sector, which has yet to recover from the pandemic and continues to suffer from US sanctions, economic instability and declining service standards.
Travel warnings and power cuts grow
Several countries have recently warned their citizens about travelling to Cuba due to frequent power cuts and rising tensions with the United States.
The energy crisis intensified after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29 threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, citing national security concerns.
Emergency measures deepen economic pressure
Cuba currently produces only around one third of its energy needs, relying heavily on imports from Venezuela, Mexico and Russia. Venezuelan supplies accounted for roughly 30 per cent of total imports in 2025.
In response, the Cuban Government has announced emergency measures including the suspension of diesel sales, reduced hours at hospitals and state offices, and the temporary closure of some hotels.
Widespread blackouts hit daily life
The island has endured six consecutive years of economic crisis marked by inflation, shortages of food, medicine and fuel, daily blackouts and mass emigration.
On Sunday February 8, power cuts were forecast to affect 59 per cent of the country simultaneously during peak hours, while recent partial grid collapses have left millions without electricity, highlighting the depth of Cuba’s ongoing energy emergency.
