Aircraft bound for Havana have been advised that refueling is not possible amid a US energy blockade
Cuban aviation officials have alerted international airlines to a jet fuel shortage caused by the ongoing US energy embargo on the island.
A notice to airmen (NOTAM) released Sunday by Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport stated that Cuba’s nine international airports will lack kerosene to refuel incoming planes starting Monday, and the crisis is projected to last until at least March. US President Donald Trump has threatened to place tariffs on countries providing oil to the Caribbean nation, as his administration believes an economic crisis could bring down the Cuban government.
In the past, airlines handled similar shortages by adding refueling stops in countries like Mexico or the Dominican Republic. But the resulting higher fares could harm tourism, according to observers.
When discussing possible disruptions for Russian tourists in Cuba, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as “truly critical” and noted that Moscow is prepared to help the longstanding ally.
“US strangulation tactics actually create many issues. We’re talking with our Cuban friends about possible ways to fix them, or at least provide the assistance we can,” he told reporters on Monday.
Russian media report that local airlines are adjusting their schedules. Passengers on one flight to Havana were said to have been asked at the last minute to stay in Moscow, as the aircraft was said to have been diverted for emergency transport.
The US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in the 1960s to pressure the post-revolution government over its ties to the Soviet Union. Restrictions persisted after the Cold War, mostly because of anti-Castro exiles’ influence in the swing state of Florida. A diplomatic thaw under President Barack Obama was undone by Trump’s first administration.
In December 2025, the US Navy and Coast Guard started intercepting tankers accused of violating American sanctions. The Trump administration asserts that Havana supports terrorist groups and serves as a conduit for Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere, which the US considers its exclusive sphere.