âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Cuban aviation officials warned airlines of a fuel shortage on the island, forcing energy rationing and disrupting flights.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cuban aviation officials, airlines, and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The notice was issued on Sunday in Havana, Cuba, and confirmed by a pilot on Monday.
đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “While refueling issues have occurred before, an official announcement of this scale is extraordinary even for an island accustomed to perpetual crisis.” – Anonymous pilot.
🎯IMPACT: Tourism and transportation in Cuba face significant challenges, with long-haul flights disrupted and fuel rationing affecting daily life.
Cuban aviation authorities have warned international airlines that the island may soon be unable to refuel aircraft, as Cuba’s deepening energy crisis spreads to the aviation sector. The notice was issued on Sunday and confirmed on Monday by a commercial pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity. The pilot described the situation as “extraordinary,” even by Cuban standards, noting that shortages have reached a level rarely seen despite the country’s long-running economic difficulties.
The warning comes as Cuba faces severe fuel rationing tied to reduced oil imports. The Trump administration has stepped up economic pressure on Havana, effectively cutting off access to key fuel supplies from allies such as Venezuela, where former Marxist dictator Nicolás Maduro has been ousted, and Mexico. An executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump in January imposed tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to Cuba, further straining the island’s already fragile energy system.
Some airlines have already been forced to alter operations. Air Canada has suspended flights to Cuba, while other carriers are planning delays or technical stops in nearby countries, including the Dominican Republic, to refuel before continuing to or from Cuban airports. The disruptions threaten Cuba’s tourism sector, one of its most important sources of foreign currency.
The fuel shortage is affecting daily life across the island. Public transportation has been reduced, fuel sales are restricted and often priced in U.S. dollars, and major cultural events such as the Havana International Book Fair have been canceled. In a televised address, President Miguel DĂaz-Canel warned citizens that additional austerity measures could be introduced as the crisis worsens.
Many Cubans have compared current conditions to the “Special Period” of the 1990s, when the collapse of Soviet support triggered widespread shortages. Now, residents face prolonged power outages, limited mobility, and difficulties obtaining basic goods, with no clear timeline for improvement.
U.S. officials have publicly suggested that Cuba’s prior dependence on Venezuelan oil leaves its communist regime vulnerable. The Trump administration aims to see major political change in Cuba by the end of the year, with the President recently saying the island’s leadership is nearing collapse.
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