Fuel Shortages Force Airlines to Redraw Flight Maps for Cuba Service
The aviation industry is navigating a high-stakes logistical puzzle following an official NOTAM A0356/26 alert from Cuban aeronautical authorities, citing a temporary shortage of Jet A-1 aviation fuel.
The restriction, effective from February 10 through March 11, 2026, has triggered a fragmented response from international carriers, ranging from technical stopovers to outright temporary suspensions as the island struggles to maintain its energy infrastructure.
Despite the supply crunch, there has been no generalized cancellation of international service. Instead, the global airline sector has split into three distinct camps: those maintaining schedules through external logistics, those pausing operations to mitigate risk, and those adopting a "wait-and-see" approach. Industry analysts emphasize that the impact on travelers varies significantly by market, with connectivity remaining structurally intact for many key regions despite the localized fuel limitations.
European carriers, including Iberia and Air Europa, have opted for tactical maneuvers to keep the Madrid-Havana corridor open. These airlines are incorporating technical refueling stops—primarily in the Dominican Republic—to ensure trans-Atlantic jets have sufficient fuel for return legs without drawing from Cuba's depleted stocks. While these detours may cause minor schedule adjustments, they represent a successful effort to maintain a vital economic link between Europe and the Caribbean.
The United States and Mexico continue to provide a steady flow of regular and charter flights, with no major cancellations reported. For these shorter routes, airlines are reportedly managing the crisis through internal fuel planning, often "tankering" or carrying extra fuel from their points of origin to minimize the need for refueling in Havana. Mexican authorities have been particularly vocal, confirming that tourism connectivity for tour operators and travelers remains a top priority.
In sharp contrast, the Canadian market—Cuba's primary source of tourism—has seen the most visible disruptions. Major players including Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing Airlines have temporarily suspended outbound passenger service. These carriers are currently prioritizing repatriation flights to collect travelers already on the island, deploying aircraft loaded with enough fuel for round-trip journeys to bypass the local shortage.
Institutional messages from Havana remain focused on market stability, stressing that the island is open for business and working with operators to minimize the operational impact. The situation highlights a broader challenge for sustainable tourism development in the region: the critical need for reliable energy supply chains to support international aviation and maintain traveler confidence during periods of economic volatility.
The next few weeks will be a test of aviation resilience, as the industry monitors whether the supply of Jet A-1 normalizes by the mid-March deadline. For now, the strategy for most global carriers is one of escalated adaptation, balancing the high demand for Cuban destinations with the hard reality of a strained jet fuel infrastructure.
