Canadian Airlines Suspend Cuba Flights Amid Prolonged Jet Fuel Shortage Crisis

According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Air Canada issued warnings today regarding severe jet fuel deficits across Cuban airports, leading to the immediate cancellation of services by two additional Canadian airlines alongside Air Canada itself. Projections indicate that the critical shortage of aviation fuel could last for approximately one month.

In response to the unfolding travel disruption, Air Canada confirmed plans to dispatch empty aircraft to Cuba specifically to transport approximately 3,000 stranded passengers. These rescue flights will be heavily provisioned with extra fuel, necessitating stopovers en route for refueling on the return journeys.

The Cuban national airline responded to the situation in a formal statement, asserting their commitment to operational integrity. They declared, “We continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety, fluidity, and order of our airspace, supporting airline operations and guaranteeing that Cuban aviation maintains the level of reliability that characterizes us.”

The crisis appears rooted in significant supply chain failures. Bloomberg, citing data from Kepler, reported that Cuba registered zero jet fuel imports from any source during January. Historically, Cuba has relied primarily on Venezuela and Mexico for its oil supply, with Venezuela being the largest provider. However, supplies from these traditional sources have been curtailed following stringent U.S. sanctions, particularly after President Donald Trump increased pressure on Mexico to halt fuel deliveries to the sanctioned nation.

Currently, Cuba faces a severe lack of immediate alternatives for fuel procurement. Despite this, Russia has signaled its intention to maintain its commitments regarding fuel supply to Cuba.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum commented on the broader humanitarian impact of the fuel constraints on Monday, stating, according to OilPrice, “This is not right. They lack fuel for hospitals or schools. People are suffering.”

The Kremlin has also acknowledged the severity of the crisis. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, informed the media that the situation in Cuba is genuinely critical. He added, “We are aware of this. We maintain intensive contacts with our Cuban friends through diplomatic and other channels.”