Cuba’s airports go dry on jet fuel starting Monday, as the government cites US interference in Venezuelan oil deliveries for a 30-day supply suspension to all airlines. This sweeping measure disrupts long-haul and regional flights alike, pushing carriers to foreign refueling points and sparking logistical chaos.
The announcement follows Washington’s military actions in Venezuela, which Havana claims have choked off essential crude imports. Airlines report mandates for stops in Cancun, Punta Cana, Nassau, or other hubs—Air France among those adapting to Caribbean detours. Operational delays and expenses are set to surge across the board.
With 400 weekly international flights in jeopardy, Cuba’s aviation sector reels. Compounding this, severe power shortages threaten blackouts, leading to austere measures: reduced workdays, slashed transport, fuel rationing, and curtailed tourism. Aviation regulators confirmed to carriers that no fuel will be available.
Tensions peak as the US offers $6 million in aid amid Cuba’s post-Venezuela crisis struggles. Yet President Díaz-Canel lambasts it as an ‘energy blockade,’ echoing Trump’s warnings of tariffs on oil-providing nations. He decries a psychological offensive designed to cripple the island.
This fuel fiasco not only grounds Cuba’s skies but signals deeper vulnerabilities. As global airlines pivot and locals endure cutbacks, the embargo’s bite grows sharper, testing Havana’s resilience in a high-stakes geopolitical chess game.