Cuba Halts Jet Fuel Sales to Foreign Carriers Amid Intensified U.S. Pressure

International airlines will no longer be able to refuel at Cuban airports after the government in Havana confirmed a severe shortage of jet kerosene, a situation officials attribute to tightened U.S. economic pressure. The suspension, announced on Sunday through sources cited by the Spanish news agency EFE, takes effect on Monday and is expected to last about one month, covering every international airport on the island.

The immediate impact falls on carriers that rely on Cuba for turn-around fueling. Industry experts say airlines departing Havana’s José Martí International Airport and other gateways will need to tanker fuel from their origin cities or schedule technical stops elsewhere in the Caribbean. While several operators have contingency plans for occasional supply disruptions, an embargo of this length is likely to disrupt flight schedules and raise operating costs.

Washington’s Latest Measures

The fuel shortage follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in late January. In that order, the White House declared that Cuba presents “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, citing the island’s alliances with China, Russia and Iran, alleged human-rights violations, and what the administration described as regional destabilization through migration and violence. The directive authorizes punitive tariffs on any country—whether supplier, trader or intermediary—that delivers crude oil or refined products to Cuba.

U.S. pressure on Havana has intensified since an American-led operation on January 3 removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. Venezuela had long been Cuba’s principal petroleum benefactor, sending oil in exchange for medical and security assistance. With Caracas no longer positioned to provide that support and alternative suppliers wary of crossing Washington, Cuba’s energy imports have contracted sharply.

Domestic Emergency Measures

Facing dwindling inventories, Cuban authorities on Friday unveiled a package of conservation steps designed to safeguard essential services. According to a televised government briefing, retail fuel sales will be strictly limited, certain tourist facilities will temporarily close, school days will be shortened, and the work week for state-owned companies will be reduced to four days, Monday through Thursday. Officials said the strategy aims to keep hospitals, food distribution and critical transportation operating while the country awaits new shipments.

Tourism, one of Cuba’s primary sources of foreign currency, was already struggling after a sharp decline in arrivals in 2025. The inability to refuel commercial aircraft is expected to exacerbate that downturn, especially if carriers opt to trim frequencies or suspend routes rather than absorb the added costs of detouring for fuel.

Reactions from Allies and Adversaries

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the fuel situation in Cuba is “truly critical” and blamed U.S. actions for the shortage. Moscow, a longstanding ally of Havana, said it remains in close contact with Cuban officials through diplomatic channels, although Peskov did not specify whether Russia plans to send emergency petroleum supplies.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemned Washington’s tariff threat in a statement released January 30, accusing the United States of “blackmail and coercion” aimed at expanding what Havana calls an illegal blockade. The foreign minister added that the global community had repeatedly rejected U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba in United Nations votes.

Mexico, another key regional player, indicated it is seeking ways to help. President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week that her administration would dispatch humanitarian aid beginning Monday and was working on a diplomatic solution that could eventually resume oil deliveries to the Caribbean nation. Mexico had suspended shipments earlier this year under U.S. pressure.

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Operational Challenges for Airlines

Airlines must now decide whether to continue serving Cuba under the new fuel constraints. Some carriers may operate flights with additional onboard fuel, a practice known as “tankering,” which permits a round-trip without refueling. However, tankering increases an aircraft’s weight and fuel burn, eroding profit margins and limiting payload. An alternative is to schedule intermediate technical stops in nearby locations such as Cancun or the Bahamas, though that adds time and logistical complexity.

According to guidelines from the International Air Transport Association, sustainable route planning is critical when fuel supply disruptions occur, particularly in markets where alternative airports with reliable supplies are limited. Aviation analysts note that Cuba’s island geography offers few proximate substitutes, making the current shortage unusually disruptive.

Economic Implications

Energy constraints have long hampered Cuba’s economy, but the present crisis coincides with a fragile post-pandemic recovery and a steep decline in hard-currency earnings from tourism. Government data show that arrivals fell by double digits in 2025 after the United States expanded restrictions on travel and cruise operations. Any additional decline risks widening budget deficits and complicating Cuba’s efforts to import food and medical supplies.

The ripple effects could also reach neighboring economies. Caribbean tourism boards worry that travelers deterred from Cuba might not automatically shift to other destinations, potentially lowering overall regional demand. At the same time, fuel reroutings and tanker flights will increase traffic at alternative hubs, straining airport capacity and ground-handling resources.

Outlook

Cuban officials have not detailed how they plan to secure new fuel supplies or whether negotiations are underway with potential providers willing to confront U.S. tariff threats. Energy specialists say options include discreet ship-to-ship transfers or imports from countries less exposed to U.S. trade, but those solutions carry legal and logistical hurdles. Until new cargoes arrive, the aviation sector—and by extension, the broader Cuban economy—faces at least several weeks of disruption.

Airlines are expected to update passengers as schedules evolve. Travelers with imminent flights to or from Cuba are advised to confirm itineraries and prepare for possible delays or route changes. Industry observers will watch closely whether Cuba can replenish its reserves before the peak Easter travel period, when demand for seats to Caribbean destinations traditionally surges.

Crédito da imagem: Afp | Getty Images