International airlines are suspending flights to Cuba as the nation continues to face a worsening gas scarcity. As a outcome, 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, slicing 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.
As a outcome, airways can 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 a minimum of May 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 clients 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 Airlines, Southwest, and Delta, are at the moment working their flights to Havana and different locations on the island as standard. That’s 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 Airlines continues to function one flight per day from Florida to Havana. “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,” a spokesperson tells Traveler by way of electronic mail. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”
Mexico City-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 in the Dominican Republic; the provider additionally issued a travel waiver so passengers can delay their journey dates via the finish of March at no additional cost.
Is it secure to journey to Cuba proper now?
Aside from jet gas shortages, Cuba is experiencing lengthy strains for gasoline and frequent energy outages on account of the US oil blockade. In many components of the nation, important infrastructure isn’t 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. However, the US State Department has maintained its routine Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisory initially issued in May 2025.
“Avoid non-essential travel to Cuba due to worsening shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic necessities including food, water, and medicine,” the Canadian authorities stated in a travel alert final up to date on February 19. “These shortages can also affect services at resorts. Fuel availability has decreased, is difficult to predict, and may disrupt ground transportation.” The advisory notes that regardless that some flights are nonetheless obtainable, airlift may turn out to be restricted on brief discover, and vacationers “should consider leaving while options remain available.”
Similarly, the UK is warning its residents that energy outages in Cuba would possibly “significantly affect the ability of visitors to access reliable transport, medical care, communications, and basic services,” per a February 19 travel warning from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. “If you are currently in Cuba, carefully consider if your presence is essential. Take precautions by conserving fuel, water, food and mobile phone charge, and be prepared for significant disruption.”
This is a creating information story and shall be up to date with data.