Russian Airlines Halt Flights to Cuba

Due to a severe shortage of aviation fuel, Russian airlines Rossiya and Nordwind, which typically connect Moscow with Cuban destinations like Havana, Varadero, and Holguín, have decided to suspend flights to the island.

This decision was confirmed on Wednesday by the Russian federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia. In an official statement released on Telegram, the agency explained:

"Because of the challenges in supplying aviation fuel in Cuba, Rossiya (part of the Aeroflot group) and Nordwind were compelled to adjust their flight schedules to the country's airports."

According to Rosaviatsia, Rossiya will only operate return flights—known as ferry flights, which carry no passengers on the outbound leg—from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to evacuate Russian tourists stranded on the island. "Subsequently, the airline will temporarily cease its flight program until the situation improves," the agency noted.

Rossiya has already put in place a full refund mechanism for passengers not traveling in tour groups while seeking technical solutions to resume operations.

Meanwhile, Nordwind has made necessary adjustments to its schedules but continues to operate occasional flights to Holguín and Varadero. Nevertheless, officials from the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) warn that bilateral air connectivity is severely compromised.

Impact on Russian Tourists

The temporary suspension affects thousands of travelers. Official figures indicate that around 4,000 Russian tourists are currently in Cuba, caught in the partial halt of air traffic.

Pegas Touristik, a major tour operator for the Caribbean destination from Russia, confirmed it has stopped selling new vacation packages to the island. "The situation is stable and under control. All tourists currently in Cuba will return to Russia in an organized manner and within the scheduled timeframe," the company stated.

Strategic Tourism Partner

Russia ranks as the second-largest source of tourists to Cuba, following Canada. In 2025, over 131,000 Russian citizens visited the island. For the Cuban government, this market is strategic in its already struggling tourism industry, which is grappling with the pandemic's impact, the tightening of the U.S. embargo, and the collapse of its energy infrastructure.

The flight disruption deals another blow to the sector, particularly as Cuba seeks to rejuvenate its economy by attracting foreign currency through tourism.

Cuba's Aviation Fuel Crisis

The root of the problem lies in a recent warning from the Cuban government to international airlines: starting Monday, the island would run out of aviation fuel due to what it termed an "energy siege" by the United States.

According to EFE, citing two sources with direct knowledge, Cuban authorities notified foreign airlines that the country would not be able to guarantee the supply of JET-A1—the type of fuel used by commercial aircraft—as of this week.

The Russian government expressed concern and stated it is working closely with Cuban authorities to find solutions. Presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov declared, "We maintain intense contacts with our Cuban friends through diplomatic channels and other means." He blamed Washington for exacerbating the island's energy crisis, saying, "These suffocating measures by the United States indeed create significant difficulties for the country."

In this context, Moscow and Havana are exploring "possible ways to resolve these issues, or at least mitigate them." For now, Russian and Cuban authorities are in constant communication to monitor the situation. Until fuel supplies are restored, regular commercial flights from Russia to Cuba will remain suspended.

The return of Russian tourists will occur gradually on organized flights by Rossiya and possibly Nordwind, while other operators explore alternative routes or less-affected destinations.

This suspension not only represents a downturn in Russian tourism to Cuba but also highlights the progressive deterioration of the island's logistical infrastructure, increasingly strained by external and internal factors exacerbating its already critical economic situation.