Airlines suspend Cuba flights amid jet fuel shortage after Trump tariff threats on oil shipments to island
Fox Business·2026-02-11 02:01

Core Viewpoint - Multiple airlines have suspended flights to Cuba due to a significant shortage of aviation fuel, exacerbated by U.S. tariffs on oil shipments to the island [1][2][14] Group 1: Airline Operations - Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat have canceled flights to Cuba, with Air Canada planning to operate repatriation flights for approximately 3,000 customers currently in Cuba [5][6] - Air Transat will suspend flights to Cuba through April 30 and refund customers whose trips have not yet begun [6] - U.S. airlines, including Southwest and Delta, reported that their operations to Cuba remain largely unaffected, with Southwest operating one flight daily to Havana [8][9] Group 2: Fuel Shortage Details - Cuban authorities announced that aviation fuel will be unavailable at airports for at least one month, until March 11 at the earliest, due to economic pressure from the U.S. [2][10] - The Cuban Aviation Corporation stated that they are working to ensure the safety and reliability of airspace operations despite the fuel shortage [13] Group 3: Political Context - President Trump declared a national emergency regarding Cuba, accusing the regime of aligning with hostile foreign powers and threatening tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba [3][14][15] - The executive order aims to protect U.S. national security and has led to a halt in oil shipments from major partners like Venezuela and Mexico, crippling Cuba's energy infrastructure [14][15]

Airlines suspend Cuba flights amid jet fuel shortage after Trump tariff threats on oil shipments to island - Reportify