The ongoing fuel crisis in Cuba is having significant repercussions on the island: two Russian airlines are preparing to evacuate their tourists in the coming days due to the critical shortage of aviation fuel. Once these flights are completed, they plan to temporarily halt operations until the fuel supply is restored.
According to a Reuters report, Russia's aviation regulatory agency, Rosaviatsia, announced that Rossiya, a subsidiary of the Aeroflot group, and Severny Veter (Nordwind) will be flying to Cuba to repatriate Russian tourists currently in the Caribbean nation. Following these flights, services will be suspended as long as the jet fuel shortage persists.
The lack of aviation fuel in Cuba has prompted the authorities to alert international airlines about the unavailability of jet fuel on the island, leading to flight cancellations and adjustments by several companies.
Rosaviatsia emphasized that the return operations for the Russian tourists will occur "in the coming days," and that after these repatriation flights, the routes will be paused until the aviation fuel crisis eases, as reported by France24.
The impact on flights, which directly affects tourism—the Caribbean nation's primary source of revenue—has also led Spanish airlines Iberia and Air Europa to implement measures like adding extra stops to refuel their aircraft.
On Tuesday, Montreal-based Air Canada announced plans to dispatch empty flights in the coming days to pick up and repatriate thousands of clients in Cuba. Following this, they will suspend flights to the Latin American country for at least a month, until March 11, as noted in a notice to pilots released last Sunday night.
Although Cuba was already grappling with a severe energy crisis, the situation has worsened to a critical point due to the U.S. President's decision to block oil shipments from Venezuela—Cuba's main ally and supplier—after Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3.
Washington's decision also includes imposing tariffs on any country attempting to fill the crude and fuel deficit, a warning that led Mexico to withdraw its energy support for the island following the capture of the Chavista leader.
Impact of Fuel Shortage on Cuban Aviation and Tourism
Why are Russian airlines evacuating tourists from Cuba?
Russian airlines are evacuating tourists due to a severe shortage of aviation fuel in Cuba, which makes sustaining regular flight operations unfeasible.
How is the fuel shortage affecting international airlines operating in Cuba?
The fuel shortage has led to flight cancellations and operational adjustments, with airlines like Iberia and Air Europa adding extra refueling stops, and Air Canada suspending flights temporarily.
What role does the U.S. play in Cuba's current energy crisis?
The U.S. has exacerbated Cuba's energy crisis by blocking oil shipments from Venezuela, Cuba's main supplier, and imposing tariffs on countries aiding Cuba's fuel needs.