Airlines Halt Flights to Cuba Amid Aviation Fuel Shortage Crisis
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure on Cuba, national security threats from communist regimes, and the fight to end foreign oil shipments to the island.
In a significant development, multiple airlines suspended flights to Cuba on Monday, responding to warnings that the island is facing a critical shortage of jet fuel. This situation arises in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats against oil shipments to the communist nation.
At least three Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, the largest carrier in the country, announced that aviation fuel would be unavailable for commercial use at Cuban airports starting this week. Other airlines, such as WestJet and Air Transat, also canceled flights due to the anticipated fuel shortages.
Cuban authorities issued a notice on Sunday indicating that aviation fuel would be unavailable at the country’s airports for at least a month, until March 11 at the earliest. This announcement coincides with the Trump administration’s intensified economic pressure on the island’s third-party oil suppliers.
Multiple airlines on Monday suspended flights to Cuba following warnings that the island is running low on jet fuel as a result of Trump administration actions against countries that supply oil to the island nation. (Mike Campbell/NurPhoto/Getty / Getty Images)
On Monday, all three carriers issued similar notices, announcing the cancellation of departures and plans to operate repatriation flights over the coming days to retrieve customers currently in Cuba. Air Canada stated, “Effective today, it is suspending its service to Cuba due to an ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island.” The airline plans to operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers already at their destination.
WestJet confirmed it would ensure its flights carry sufficient fuel to “safely depart without reliance on local fuel availability.” Meanwhile, Air Transat announced it would suspend flights to Cuba through April 30 and refund customers whose trips have not yet begun.
TRUMP SAYS CUBA IS ‘READY TO FALL’ AFTER CAPTURE OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO
Air Canada has suspended service to Cuba over fuel shortages there. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
In contrast, multiple U.S. airlines reported to FOX Business that their operations to the island continue without major disruptions. Southwest and Delta Air Lines confirmed they are currently operating one flight per day to and from Havana.
Southwest Airlines stated, “Due to the current status of aviation fuel in Cuba, we are requiring aircraft that fly to Havana to carry enough fuel to also fly to their next destination.” Delta confirmed that its scheduled daily roundtrip between Miami and Havana remains unaffected by the fuel shortage, as the short route can be operated without carrying excessive fuel.
The island’s notice of a fuel shortage comes just two days after Cuban officials claimed that air travel would not be immediately impacted by the country’s fuel rationing plan announced over the weekend. According to the Cuban media outlet Grito de Baire, Cuba’s Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, stated that international airports are operating without difficulty.
AFTER MADURO, VENEZUELA FACES HARD CHOICES TO REBUILD ITS SHATTERED ECONOMY
President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on countries that supply oil to Cuba in a move aimed at increasing economic pressure on the communist-run island. (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reuters reported that the Cuban Aviation Corporation released a statement on Monday morning, assuring that they are “working tirelessly to ensure the safety, fluidity, and order of the airspace, supporting airline operations and ensuring that aviation in Cuba maintains the levels of reliability that characterize us.”
Last month, Trump intensified economic pressure on Cuba by declaring a national emergency through an executive order. He accused the country’s communist regime of aligning with hostile foreign powers and terrorist groups while moving to punish nations that supply it with oil.
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The executive order, issued on January 29, labeled the Cuban government as “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S., aiming to protect American national security. This has severely impacted Cuba’s energy infrastructure, prompting major foreign partners like Venezuela and Mexico to halt shipments to the island.
Trump stated, “The United States has zero tolerance for the depredations of the communist Cuban regime,” emphasizing that the administration will act to hold the regime accountable while supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations for a free and democratic society.
FOX Business reached out to the White House and American Airlines for further information.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Reuters contributed to this report.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure on Cuba, national security threats from communist regimes, and the fight to end foreign oil shipments to the island.
In a significant development, multiple airlines suspended flights to Cuba on Monday, responding to warnings that the island is facing a critical shortage of jet fuel. This situation arises in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats against oil shipments to the communist nation.
At least three Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, the largest carrier in the country, announced that aviation fuel would be unavailable for commercial use at Cuban airports starting this week. Other airlines, such as WestJet and Air Transat, also canceled flights due to the anticipated fuel shortages.
Cuban authorities issued a notice on Sunday indicating that aviation fuel would be unavailable at the country’s airports for at least a month, until March 11 at the earliest. This announcement coincides with the Trump administration’s intensified economic pressure on the island’s third-party oil suppliers.
Multiple airlines on Monday suspended flights to Cuba following warnings that the island is running low on jet fuel as a result of Trump administration actions against countries that supply oil to the island nation. (Mike Campbell/NurPhoto/Getty / Getty Images)
On Monday, all three carriers issued similar notices, announcing the cancellation of departures and plans to operate repatriation flights over the coming days to retrieve customers currently in Cuba. Air Canada stated, “Effective today, it is suspending its service to Cuba due to an ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island.” The airline plans to operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers already at their destination.
WestJet confirmed it would ensure its flights carry sufficient fuel to “safely depart without reliance on local fuel availability.” Meanwhile, Air Transat announced it would suspend flights to Cuba through April 30 and refund customers whose trips have not yet begun.
TRUMP SAYS CUBA IS ‘READY TO FALL’ AFTER CAPTURE OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO
Air Canada has suspended service to Cuba over fuel shortages there. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
In contrast, multiple U.S. airlines reported to FOX Business that their operations to the island continue without major disruptions. Southwest and Delta Air Lines confirmed they are currently operating one flight per day to and from Havana.
Southwest Airlines stated, “Due to the current status of aviation fuel in Cuba, we are requiring aircraft that fly to Havana to carry enough fuel to also fly to their next destination.” Delta confirmed that its scheduled daily roundtrip between Miami and Havana remains unaffected by the fuel shortage, as the short route can be operated without carrying excessive fuel.
The island’s notice of a fuel shortage comes just two days after Cuban officials claimed that air travel would not be immediately impacted by the country’s fuel rationing plan announced over the weekend. According to the Cuban media outlet Grito de Baire, Cuba’s Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, stated that international airports are operating without difficulty.
AFTER MADURO, VENEZUELA FACES HARD CHOICES TO REBUILD ITS SHATTERED ECONOMY
President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on countries that supply oil to Cuba in a move aimed at increasing economic pressure on the communist-run island. (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reuters reported that the Cuban Aviation Corporation released a statement on Monday morning, assuring that they are “working tirelessly to ensure the safety, fluidity, and order of the airspace, supporting airline operations and ensuring that aviation in Cuba maintains the levels of reliability that characterize us.”
Last month, Trump intensified economic pressure on Cuba by declaring a national emergency through an executive order. He accused the country’s communist regime of aligning with hostile foreign powers and terrorist groups while moving to punish nations that supply it with oil.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The executive order, issued on January 29, labeled the Cuban government as “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the U.S., aiming to protect American national security. This has severely impacted Cuba’s energy infrastructure, prompting major foreign partners like Venezuela and Mexico to halt shipments to the island.
Trump stated, “The United States has zero tolerance for the depredations of the communist Cuban regime,” emphasizing that the administration will act to hold the regime accountable while supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations for a free and democratic society.
FOX Business reached out to the White House and American Airlines for further information.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Reuters contributed to this report.
