Russia Airlines Suspend Cuba Flights Amid Fuel Shortage & US Pressure
Two Russian airlines, Rossiya and Nordwind, have suspended flights to Cuba after initiating evacuation flights for Russian tourists stranded on the island due to a critical shortage of jet fuel, according to statements released Wednesday by Russia’s federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia.
The decision follows a warning from Cuban aviation authorities that jet fuel supplies would be severely limited for at least a month, beginning Tuesday, as Havana grapples with a deepening energy crisis. Rossiya, part of the Aeroflot group, will operate outbound-only flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to repatriate Russian nationals, with its flight program temporarily suspended afterward “until the situation changes,” Rosaviatsia stated.
Nordwind is also conducting evacuation flights, focusing on Holguín and Cayo Coco, and has adjusted its schedule accordingly. While the airline has not specified a timeline for resuming regular operations, the disruptions significantly impact air connectivity between the two countries.
Approximately 4,000 Russian tourists are currently in Cuba, according to Russia’s tourism board, and are affected by the partial suspension of air traffic. Moscow is working to fully reimburse ticket costs for passengers not traveling as part of organized tour groups and is seeking “alternative opportunities to resume flights in both directions,” Rosaviatsia added.
The fuel shortage is widely attributed to increasing pressure from the United States, which has restricted Cuba’s access to oil supplies. The Kremlin has accused the U.S. Of attempting to “suffocate” Cuba, a long-standing ally. “We’re discussing possible solutions with our Cuban friends, at least to provide whatever assistance we can,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.
The crisis extends beyond Russian airlines. Air Canada has already suspended all flights to Cuba due to the lack of guaranteed fuel, and other carriers are either canceling flights or requiring aircraft to carry sufficient fuel for the return journey. The situation follows a U.S. Executive order last month threatening additional tariffs on countries that continue to sell oil to Cuba, resulting in no foreign fuel tankers arriving on the island in recent weeks, according to experts tracking maritime transport.
The current energy crisis compounds existing economic challenges for Cuba, which has been under a U.S. Trade embargo since 1962 and is experiencing its most severe economic downturn since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The disruption in oil supplies from Venezuela, following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has further exacerbated the situation.