Canadian airlines issue travel advisories as Cuban airport warns it will run out of jet fuel
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Several Canadian airlines issued travel advisories for Cuba as the Caribbean island’s main airport warned it would run out of jet fuel on Tuesday.
In an official notice called the NOTAM posted on the website of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday, JOsé Martí International Airport is warning “Jet A1 fuel is not available” from Tuesday, and the warning will continue until March 11.
A NOTAM, or “notice to airmen,” is an official notification which contains information important to personnel related to the operation of the aircraft, according to the FAA. The Havana airport NOTAM is classified as “international,” meaning it is intended to be viewed by many countries.
This comes days after the Canadian federal government issued a travel advisory for Cuba, warning that continued fuel shortages could disrupt resorts and flights.
in Cuba it has historically relied on Venezuela to supply most of its jet fuel, as Reuters reports, but the Caribbean island nation has not received crude or refined products from its top allies since mid-December, when the US moved to block sales to the South American country.
Now, several Canadian airlines have issued their Cuba travel warnings or are using flexible cancellation options. Air Canada, WestJet Air Transat and Sunwing have all announced flexible rebooking or cancellation options.
WestJet, in its announcement, cited a “power outage” as the reason for its advisory on all flights to and from Cuba from Sunday to Feb. 26, 2026.
The federal government has updated its travel advisories for Cuba, warning Canadians planning to travel to the island of fuel and food shortages. McKenzie MacMillan, CEO of The Travel Group, says she was not surprised to hear the warning.
“Due to the ongoing power outages and hotel closures in Cuba, we understand that you may want to make alternative travel plans,” Air Canada posted on its website Friday.
In addition, Transat noted that several resorts in Cuba are temporarily closed “due to low occupancy rates,” and is allowing affected customers to c.list the date, hotel, or location of their trip without penalty.
“Air Transat, like other cargo companies, has been notified by the Cuban authorities of the temporary suspension of fueling at the country’s airports,” the airline wrote in a statement Monday morning.
However, it added, the airline still plans to operate the flights as scheduled.
CBC News has reached out to each airline for comment and has not heard back.
