Trump Cuba Oil Sanctions Force Havana Jet‑Fuel Halt as Russia Suspends Flights and FAA Warns of Fuel Shortages
U.S. sanctions restricting oil to Cuba have led the FAA to issue a Feb. 10 NOTAM warning that Jet A‑1 will not be available at nine Cuban airports through March 11, prompting carriers including Air Canada and Russia’s Rossiya and Nordwind to suspend or repatriate flights and forcing others to add refueling stops in the Dominican Republic or Cancun or cancel service. The fuel cutoff has deepened an internal energy emergency in Havana—public buses have effectively halted, major cultural events and parts of the baseball season have been curtailed, and fuel sales are dollar‑only and rationed—while Mexico has paused oil shipments but sent humanitarian aid and pledged support, China has offered assistance, and analysts warn Cuba could run out of fuel by the end of March 2026 if no new tankers arrive.
📌 Key Facts
- Cuban aviation authorities and the FAA issued notices/NOTAMs saying Jet A‑1/jet fuel will not be available at nine Cuban airports — Havana José Martí, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo — through March 11.
- Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) said Rossiya (Aeroflot Group) and Nordwind are suspending their Cuba flight programs because they can no longer reliably refuel on the island; Rossiya will operate several outbound repatriation flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow before temporarily halting service.
- Several airlines have canceled or suspended service to Cuba (including Air Canada and other major Canadian carriers); other operators are adding technical refueling stops in the Dominican Republic or Cancun or carrying extra fuel (e.g., Southwest) to avoid refueling in Cuba.
- Cuba’s internal energy crisis has intensified: public bus service has largely ground to a halt, major cultural events (including the Havana International Book Fair) and parts of the national baseball season have been canceled or restructured, banks have cut hours, fuel sales are dollar‑only and capped at 20 liters per user, and President Díaz‑Canel has announced further austerity measures.
- Mexico has paused oil shipments amid U.S. pressure but President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly pledged support for Cuba — dispatching two navy vessels with about 814 tons of humanitarian aid and vowing to try to restore oil shipments — while China’s foreign ministry said Beijing will continue to assist Cuba against "foreign interference."
- Analysts warn Cuba could run out of fuel by the end of March 2026 if no new tankers arrive, heightening the humanitarian and transportation risks on the island.
- Observers frame the U.S. crackdown on Cuba’s oil imports as part of a broader hemispheric strategy (described by some as a "Monroe Doctrine 2.0" or "Donroe Doctrine") that pressures regional partners on security, trade and migration policy.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 12, 2026
1:10 PM
Russia to suspend flights to Cuba as Trump sanctions cut fuel supply
New information:
- Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) says Rossiya (Aeroflot Group) and Nordwind are suspending their Cuba flight programs because they can no longer reliably refuel on the island.
- Rossiya will operate several outbound‑only flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to repatriate Russian tourists before halting service, with the suspension framed as temporary until the fuel situation improves.
- The FAA has issued a NOTAM, posted Feb. 10, explicitly warning that Jet A‑1 fuel is not available at nine Cuban airports — Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and Manzanillo — through March 11.
February 11, 2026
4:50 PM
As U.S. stymies oil imports to Cuba, Mexico plays a balancing act
New information:
- Experts now estimate Cuba could run out of fuel by the end of March 2026 if no new tankers arrive.
- All major Canadian airlines have canceled flights to Cuba due to lack of aviation fuel, with other long-haul carriers expected to follow.
- Mexico confirms it has paused oil shipments to Cuba in response to Trump’s threatened tariffs but has dispatched two navy vessels from Veracruz carrying 814 tons of food and humanitarian supplies.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has spoken about Cuba almost daily since Trump’s order, calling the U.S. move unjust and vowing Mexico will continue to support Cuba and seek to help restore oil shipments.
- Analysts frame the U.S. Cuba oil crackdown as part of a broader 'Monroe Doctrine 2.0' or 'Donroe Doctrine' in which Washington asserts a hemispheric sphere of influence and pressures Mexico on security, immigration, trade and Cuba.
February 10, 2026
3:44 PM
Airlines adjust as Trump's policies dry up Cuba's jet fuel supplies
New information:
- Cuba’s government issued formal notices to airlines and pilots Sunday night that jet fuel will not be available at nine airports, including Havana’s José Martí International, from Tuesday through March 11.
- Air Canada has suspended flights to Cuba because of the inability to refuel on the island; other long‑haul carriers are adding delays and layovers in the Dominican Republic to refuel before continuing to Havana.
- Southwest Airlines says its single daily Havana flight will now carry enough fuel to fly on to its next destination without refueling in Cuba.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly vowed to increase support for Cuba — loading over 800 tons of humanitarian aid onto Mexican Navy ships and pledging to resume oil shipments — while condemning Trump’s sanctions as unfair.
- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing firmly supports Cuba against "foreign interference" and will continue to provide assistance "to the best of our ability."
- Pilots note that prior fuel rationing more than a decade ago forced Europe-bound aircraft to refuel in Nassau, and current workarounds include extra fuel uplift or technical stops in Cancun or the Dominican Republic.
February 09, 2026
10:35 PM
Airlines will no longer be able to refuel on Cuba as U.S. blockade deepens island's energy crisis
New information:
- Cuban aviation authorities have formally notified airlines that jet fuel will not be available at nine airports, including Havana’s José Martí International, from Tuesday through March 11.
- Air Canada has announced suspension of flights to Cuba, while other carriers are adding refueling stops in the Dominican Republic and potentially Cancun to keep routes running.
- Cuba’s internal energy crisis has intensified: Havana’s public bus system has 'effectively ground to a halt,' major cultural events like the Havana International Book Fair and parts of the national baseball season have been canceled or restructured, and fuel sales are now dollar-only and capped at 20 liters per user.
- Cuban banks have reduced operating hours and cultural events are suspended as part of a broader energy emergency; Díaz-Canel gave a two-hour televised address warning of more austerity measures.
February 01, 2026