Air Canada announced the temporary suspension of its flights to Cuba. The decision, made on Monday, stemmed from a severe shortage of jet fuel (kerosene) at Cuban airports, threatening the island's vital tourism sector.
Details of flight suspensions and tourist evacuation
In an official statement, the Canadian company explained that refueling operations at Cuban airports were no longer commercially viable, prompting its decision to suspend flights for one month, starting at midnight on Monday. To ensure the safety of its customers, Air Canada confirmed that it would operate empty departure flights from Canada to Cuba over the next few days, aimed exclusively at repatriating approximately 3,000 passengers currently on the island, most of whom had traveled on holiday packages offered by the airline.
Geopolitical background: Sanctions and Venezuela
Cuba’s current fuel crisis cannot be separated from the complex geopolitical landscape of Latin America. Cuba relies heavily on oil imports from its ally Venezuela to meet its energy needs. With the United States economic sanctions on Venezuela and the decline in Venezuelan oil production, supplies to Havana have been severely affected. The situation has been exacerbated by stringent US policies targeting oil shipments between the two countries, as well as executive orders imposing tariffs and restrictions on countries and entities that conduct oil trade with Cuba.
The repercussions of the crisis on the Cuban interior
Faced with this severe shortage, the Cuban government announced a package of emergency austerity measures to ration energy consumption. These measures included reducing working days in the public sector, implementing remote work in many government departments and institutions, and strictly rationing fuel sales. The island is experiencing genuine fears of a return to the prolonged power outages (blackouts) it suffered in the past, as power plants struggle to operate at full capacity.
Economic and tourism impact
The decision by Air Canada represents a significant blow to the Cuban economy, as Canada is the primary source of tourists to Cuba. The Cuban economy relies heavily on the hard currency generated by the tourism sector. The suspension of flights, even temporarily, is expected to lead to a decline in revenue, further increasing the pressure on the Cuban government, which has repeatedly accused Washington of attempting to "strangle" its economy through the ongoing embargo.
For his part, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel affirmed that his country is open to dialogue with the United States to resolve existing disputes, while stressing that this dialogue must be based on mutual respect and not under pressure or economic threats.
