Russia has announced it will fly its citizens home from Cuba and then halt all regular flights until a serious fuel crisis on the Caribbean island eases, officials said this week. The move highlights how Cuba’s growing energy problems are disrupting travel and tourism.
The Russian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, said that two airlines, Rossiya (part of Aeroflot) and Nordwind (Severny Veter), will operate return-only flights to bring Russian tourists back from Cuba in the coming days. After these “evacuation” flights, regular services between Russia and Cuba will be temporarily suspended because jet fuel is not reliably available at Cuban airports.
About 4,800 Russian visitors are still in Cuba, and Aeroflot has scheduled flights from major resort airports like Varadero and Havana back to Moscow before ending its route until further notice. The Russian government has also advised its citizens not to travel to Cuba until conditions improve.
Cuba has warned international airlines that jet fuel (Jet A-1) will be unavailable at its airports from early February through at least March 11, a situation that has forced carriers to cancel flights, reroute planes, or fuel up in third countries before returning home. This fuel crisis has hit tourism hard, as airlines from other nations such as Canada have already suspended flights for similar reasons.
The fuel shortage stems from wider energy problems on the island, which has struggled with power outages, transport disruptions and shortages of basic goods as its oil supply has been cut. The United States government recently declared Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and stopped Venezuelan oil shipments to the island, while warning other fuel-exporting countries against supplying Cuba.
Russia, one of Cuba’s long-standing political allies, has criticized U.S. actions and expressed concern over the energy situation, even as it focuses on repatriating its citizens. Moscow also said it may send oil and fuel supplies as humanitarian aid, though details and timing remain unclear.
The suspension of flights between Russia and Cuba marks a significant disruption for tourism, a key source of foreign money for the Cuban economy. Unless jet fuel becomes available again, international air travel to the island will remain limited, affecting both visitors and the local tourism industry.
