Cuba’s Airports Run Out of Jet Fuel

CUBA · BREAKING

Updated Monday, 26 October, 4:22 p.m. ET · Source: Cuban aviation authorities, airport and airline notices

Official Notices Extend Restriction

Cuba's state-run Empresa Cubana de Navegación Aérea (ECNA), the country's air navigation authority, issued ten aviation notices declaring Jet A-1 fuel unavailable at major airports. The NOTAMs, numbered A3459/26 through A3468/26, state simply: 'JET A1 FUEL NOT AVBL.'

The notices replaced an earlier series that had been due to expire on 1 October, and they run through 1 November.

The affected airports include José Martí International in Havana, Juan Gualberto Gómez in Varadero, and eight other principal gateways serving tourism and international travel. The restriction applies specifically to aircraft refueling, not to airport access or all flight operations.

Airlines Adjust Operations

The fuel shortage does not constitute a blanket flight ban, but it creates significant operational constraints for carriers serving Cuba. Airlines may still operate if aircraft arrive with sufficient fuel, alter payloads or routes, or arrange technical refueling stops abroad.

Short-haul routes from Florida, Mexico, or Caribbean destinations may be viable if aircraft can carry enough fuel for both outbound and return legs. Long-haul services, however, often require technical stops in third countries, increasing costs and extending travel times.

Shortage Dates to February

Reports place the broader aviation-fuel problem as far back as February 2026, when authorities declared a lack of Jet A-1 at nine international airports. Authorities renewed the notices before the initial period expired, and successive extensions continued through the spring and summer.

Reports now count ten airports; the original February notices covered nine. Some reports attribute the shortage to wider difficulties obtaining petroleum products.Reports attribute the shortage to disrupted Venezuelan oil supplies and tighter U.S. sanctions.

Traveler Impact and Outlook

The fuel restriction has raised concern for international and tourism-oriented services using Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Holguín, and other listed airports. Travelers are advised to confirm schedules, stops, and connections with their airlines, particularly those traveling from the United States and Europe.

Air China scheduled an extra flight, CA590, on 19 October at the request of the Chinese embassy in Cuba, for passengers stranded after earlier cancellations.The expiry date of 1 November is the end of the current notices, not a guarantee that fuel supplies will resume.Authorities may issue new notices if the shortage continues.

What It Means for US Readers

U.S. travelers with planned trips to Cuba should confirm flight status directly with their airline, as schedules and routing may change with little notice. The fuel restriction affects refueling at ten major Cuban airports, but does not automatically close those airports or cancel all flights.

Short-haul routes from Florida may remain viable if aircraft can carry enough fuel for both outbound and return legs. Travelers should verify whether their carrier has arranged technical refueling stops or adjusted departure times before heading to the airport.

What Is Not Known

Whether fuel will actually return on 1 November is not known; the date is the expiry of the current notices, not a guarantee that supplies will resume. The precise cause and scale of the shortage are also not established in available reports.

No authoritative tally is provided for cancelled, delayed, diverted, or fuel-stopped flights. The available reports do not provide a consolidated figure for stranded passengers, financial losses, or the volume of fuel unavailable.

The available reports identify ECNA as the issuing institution but do not name an official who authorized the extension or explain the procurement failure. Claims that U.S. actions or a Caribbean naval blockade caused the shortage are reported but not substantiated by an independent primary-source assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cuban airports closed?

No. The notices state that Jet A-1 fuel is not available for refueling, but they do not order the closure of the terminals. Flights may still operate if airlines make alternative arrangements for fuel.

Which airports are affected?

Ten airports are affected: Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Manzanillo, and Cayo Largo. These include Cuba’s principal international gateways and several tourist destinations.

When will fuel be available again?

The current notices expire at 04:00 UTC on 1 November 2026, which is the start of that day in Cuba. However, the expiry date is not a guarantee that supplies will resume, and authorities may issue new notices if the shortage continues.

Sources: Cuban aviation authorities, airport and airline notices.

More: Cuba news, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief