Cuba has halted aircraft refueling for a month as US sanctions worsen fuel shortages, significantly impacting its tourism industry and daily life.
As the Trump administration intensifies energy embargoes against Cuba, the Cuban government has announced a halt to aircraft refueling services across the nation, including at José Martí International Airport in Havana, from October 10 to November 11. The suspension is a direct result of escalating fuel shortages, which have begun to severely disrupt the tourism sector—a critical source of foreign revenue for the island—while also affecting the daily lives of its residents. Airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat have temporarily suspended flights to Cuba, while Spanish carrier Air Europa will be making refueling stops in the Dominican Republic during flights from Madrid to Havana.
The dire fuel situation stems from President Trump's executive order last month, which imposed tariffs on oil transactions with Cuba, leading to a complete halt of oil imports to the island for the first time in ten years. Historically, Cuba has relied on Venezuelan crude oil to weather its economic crises, but after events earlier this year that included military interventions, US pressure has extended beyond Venezuela to affect Cuba adversely. As fuel supplies diminish, Cuba's vital beach resort tourism industry faces an existential crisis, with recent alerts of operational suspensions from major resorts, forcing the relocation of tourists to areas with better energy access.
The consequences of this fuel scarcity extend deeply into everyday Cuban life. Residents in Havana are faced with long lines at gas stations, often waiting for hours to refuel. The shortages are not limited to fuels; mixed shortages of cooking gas, drinking water, and electricity are causing severe hardships. Furthermore, the government has indicated that medical services will be curtailed due to the fuel crisis, reducing the number of hospitalizations and surgeries. Additionally, educational hours will be shortened, and various key sports and cultural events have been postponed, illustrating the widespread impact of the sanctions on both the economy and daily civilian life.
