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Cuba Runs Out of Jet Fuel

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The air connectivity of Cuba is facing one of its most delicate moments in decades. The country is preparing to run out of Jet A-1 aviation fuel at all of its international airports, a situation that jeopardizes the operations of American, Canadian, European, and Latin American airlines. The trigger combines geopolitical pressure, energy sanctions, and a structural economic crisis that is already fully impacting air transport and tourism—two key pillars for obtaining foreign currency.

No Jet A-1

The Cuban government warned international airlines that they will not be able to refuel at airports for at least one month. This extraordinary measure took effect this Tuesday and is expected to extend until March 11, according to a notification published Sunday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The absence of Jet A-1 forces companies to rethink their operations, either through technical stopovers in third countries or adjustments in scheduling and cargo. This strategy was previously utilized during past crises, such as after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, when airlines turned to Mexico or the Dominican Republic for refueling.

Washington Factor: Pressure on the Energy Supply Chain

The current scenario worsened following the United States’ decision in early January to cut fuel shipments from Venezuela, Havana’s primary energy ally. This measure occurred after Washington transferred socialist leader Nicolás Maduro to face narco-terrorism charges in New York, effectively closing one of the valves for the supply of crude oil and derivatives to the island.

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Added to this is a direct warning from President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies oil to Cuba. This raises the risk for potential suppliers and deepens the energy isolation of the regime.

Operational Impact: Airlines and Tourism

Cuba is served by a diverse network of international airlines that not only transport tourists but also fulfill a key logistical function. Beyond passenger traffic, commercial flights serve as an indirect route for importing essential goods. The disruption of the fuel supply threatens to reduce flight frequencies or make operations more expensive, thereby affecting the flow of tourism.

Migration and Regional Isolation: Closing Another Escape Valve

In parallel with the aviation crisis, Nicaragua has tightened its migration rules, blocking the entry of Cuban citizens without a visa. This decision eliminates a key route for emigration in a context where nearly one in five Cubans has left the island in the last decade, driven by economic deterioration.

This measure increases internal pressure and further reduces exit options for the population while the country faces growing restrictions on transport, energy, and mobility.

Contingency Measures: Internal Adjustments and Visible Cuts

The government in Havana announced a package of emergency measures to address the crisis, including:

In the tourism sector, the impact is direct: the closure of resorts and the consolidation of visitors into a smaller number of hotels, with the goal of maximizing the capture of foreign currency during the high season.

Aviation is once again a precise thermometer of the Cuban situation: when fuel is lacking, connectivity suffers and isolation deepens.

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