Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba because of aviation fuel shortage

Air Canada announced Monday it is temporarily suspending all flights to Cuba due to a nationwide aviation fuel shortage on the island, leaving thousands of Canadian tourists scrambling to adjust their travel plans.

The decision comes after Cuban authorities informed airlines that aviation fuel would no longer be available at any Cuban airports beginning Tuesday. In response, Air Canada is deploying empty aircraft to Cuba in the coming days to retrieve approximately 3,000 Canadian travelers currently vacationing on the island.

“Our priority is ensuring the safe return of all our customers currently in Cuba,” said an Air Canada spokesperson. “We’re working diligently to accommodate affected passengers and minimize disruption to their travel plans.”

Cuba has been grappling with a deteriorating energy crisis, exacerbated by longstanding U.S. economic sanctions that restrict oil shipments to the Caribbean nation. The fuel shortage represents the latest challenge for the island’s struggling economy, which relies heavily on tourism revenue.

Other Canadian carriers, including Air Transat and WestJet/Sunwing, have indicated they intend to maintain their flight schedules despite the fuel announcement, though industry analysts question the feasibility of these plans given the severity of Cuba’s energy constraints.

“Airlines planning to continue service will likely need to implement fuel-tankering measures, carrying extra fuel on inbound flights to enable return journeys,” explained aviation analyst Maria Sanchez. “This adds significant operational costs and complexity.”

The suspension comes at a particularly challenging time for Cuba’s tourism sector, which has struggled to regain momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic devastated global travel. Before the pandemic, tourism generated approximately $3 billion annually for Cuba’s economy and employed hundreds of thousands of workers.

Canadian visitors are especially crucial to Cuba’s economic wellbeing. Canada consistently ranks as Cuba’s largest source of tourists, with more than one million Canadians visiting annually before the pandemic. According to Global Affairs Canada, Canadian entities represent the second-largest source of direct foreign investment on the island, with significant stakes in mining operations and tourism infrastructure.

“This temporary suspension could have cascading effects throughout Cuba’s economy,” said Caribbean economic analyst Carlos Rodriguez. “Beyond the immediate impact on hotels and restaurants, it affects everything from agricultural producers supplying resorts to the thousands of Cubans working in the informal tourism sector.”

The Cuban government has not officially commented on how long the fuel shortage might last or what measures it is taking to secure alternative aviation fuel supplies. Sources familiar with the situation suggest the shortage stems from payment difficulties with international suppliers and logistical challenges exacerbated by U.S. sanctions.

Travel advisories from the Canadian government have not been updated to reflect the fuel situation, but travelers with upcoming plans to visit Cuba are advised to contact their airlines and tour operators for the latest information.

This is not the first time Cuba has faced energy challenges. The island experienced significant fuel shortages in 2019, which led to reduced public transportation and affected various sectors of the economy. However, the complete unavailability of aviation fuel represents an unprecedented situation for the island’s tourism industry.

Industry observers note that if the suspension continues for an extended period, it could prompt a reconsideration of Cuba’s tourism strategy, potentially accelerating efforts to reduce the sector’s energy intensity and develop more sustainable practices.

The timing is particularly unfortunate as Cuba had been seeing modest growth in international arrivals during the first quarter of 2023, suggesting a potential recovery path for its tourism industry was underway before this latest setback.