- Russia has suspended all regular commercial flights to Cuba following a critical jet fuel shortage.
- A lack of Jet A-1 fuel affects nine international airports including Havana, Varadero, and Cayo Coco.
- Travelers are being evacuated via one-way flights while regular service is halted starting February 24, 2026.
Russia just pulled the plug on regular flights to Cuba, and it can upend winter sun plans fast. If you’re booked on Rossiya or Nordwind after late February, expect cancellations, reroutes, or a forced change of destination as Cuba deals with a jet fuel shortage.
Russian authorities say the trigger is a lack of Jet A‑1 at nine Cuban international airports. The disruption window runs from Feb. 9 through Mar. 11, 2026, and Russia is switching from normal schedules to one-way evacuation flying to get stranded travelers home.
Russia suspends flights to Cuba amid jet fuel shortage
Russia is suspending all regular commercial service to Cuba after operating repatriation flights for roughly 4,000 stranded Russian tourists. The move follows Cuban airport notices that Jet A‑1 would not be available at multiple gateways used by Russian leisure routes.
For travelers, that means two immediate things:
- Roundtrip flights become the problem. Airlines can fly in, but may not be able to refuel reliably for the return.
- Tour packages are being shut down. Russia’s economic ministry told citizens to avoid travel to Cuba and urged operators to stop selling packages.
Jet fuel shortage details and the airports affected
Cuban aviation notices said Jet A‑1 would be unavailable at nine international airports from Feb. 9 to Mar. 11, 2026. These include Havana and major resort entry points like Varadero and Cayo Coco.
| Airport | City/Area | ICAO |
|---|---|---|
| José Martí International | Havana | MUHA |
| Varadero | Varadero | MUVR |
| Cayo Coco | Cayo Coco | MUCC |
| Frank País | Holguín | MUHG |
| Antonio Maceo | Santiago de Cuba | MUCU |
| Ignacio Agramonte | Camagüey | MUCM |
| Jaime González | Cienfuegos | MUCF |
| Abel Santamaría | Santa Clara | MUSC |
| Sierra Maestra | Manzanillo | MUMZ |
This is the kind of operational failure that ripples beyond one airline. Even carriers that keep flying may need to tanker fuel (depart with extra fuel) or swap aircraft, which can raise payload limits and trigger last-minute offloads.
Repatriation flights and the suspension timeline
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, said Rossiya Airlines (an Aeroflot subsidiary) and Nordwind Airlines would operate one-way repatriation flights due to refueling difficulties.
Rossiya published a tight set of return flights to Moscow:
- FV6928 Varadero–Moscow on Feb. 12, 14, 17, 19, and 21
- FV6850 Havana–Moscow on Feb. 16
Nordwind is handling evacuations from Varadero, Holguín, and Cayo Coco.
After that, Russia’s regular two-way flying is set to stop. Authorities said all regular roundtrip flights are suspended after Feb. 24, 2026.
| Service | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Russia–Cuba flying | Regular commercial roundtrips | One-way repatriation, then suspension |
| Key operational issue | Normal refueling | Jet A‑1 shortages at major airports |
| Dates that matter | Ongoing schedules | Fuel disruption Feb. 9–Mar. 11; regular flights stop after Feb. 24 |
Advisories, refunds, and emergency contacts
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development advised citizens to avoid travel to Cuba, and it told tour operators to halt package sales. Affected travelers are being offered:
- Refunds
- Rescheduling
- Destination changes
Organized package tours qualify for full refunds under Russian law, according to the advisory.
The Russian Embassy in Cuba published an emergency line for urgent issues like health problems, lost documents, or fatalities: (+53) 5 263-02-77.
Belarusian tourists are also included in the evacuation effort, with a small number still in resort areas like Varadero, Holguín, and Cayo Coco.
Root causes: U.S. sanctions and regional energy dynamics
The shortage is being tied directly to new U.S. actions toward Cuba. President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 29, 2026, declaring a national emergency over Cuba’s threat to U.S. security. The order imposed tariffs on goods from countries supplying oil to Cuba, effective Jan. 30.
Compounding that, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026. That disrupted Cuba’s primary oil source. Russian statements say no foreign oil tankers have arrived since.
Mexico is also under pressure as a supplier. Mexico’s leader issued a statement on Feb. 9 offering aid and criticizing U.S. policy.
For U.S.-based travelers, the immediate issue is less about new entry rules and more about reliability. Even if your itinerary doesn’t touch Russia, fuel constraints can still trigger cancellations, weight limits, and irregular operations across the island.
International responses and Cuba’s wider energy crunch
The Kremlin said Russia is in talks with Cuba to counter what it called suffocating measures. Other airlines are already reacting too. Air Canada has suspended flights in some cases, or required aircraft to carry enough fuel for the return.
Cuba’s broader energy crisis is also spilling into daily life. Reports include halted buses, reduced bank hours, suspended events like the Havana International Book Fair, and gasoline being sold in dollars only with a five-gallon cap per user.
For frequent flyers, the loyalty angle is straightforward but important. If your Russia–Cuba trip was tied to Aeroflot-linked flying, cancellations can erase both redeemable miles and status credit you expected to earn. If you booked with points through a bank portal or airline partner, start with the ticketing carrier, then push for a refund if the flight is canceled.
⚠️ Heads Up: If you’re holding Russia–Cuba roundtrips, Feb. 24, 2026 is the date to circle. After that, regular service is suspended, and options narrow quickly.
