Cuba fuel crisis prompts travel advisory and suspension of Air Canada flights

Air Canada is suspending flights to Cuba due to an ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island.

 

The airline will operate empty flights southbound to pick up 3,000 passengers and return them home.

 

The decision came as the Foreign Office warned that Cuba is experiencing “serious issues” with its national power grid and fuel supply.

 

There are no direct flights from the UK to Cuba, with specialist operators using carriers such as Air Canada, Iberia, Air Europa, Air France, Air Transat, Swiss, Aero Mexico and Turkish Airlines to provide one-stop options.

 

In an updated travel advisory for the Caribbean island nation, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “We understand that some tourists are being relocated to different hotels to maximise fuel consumption from generators. You should contact your tour operator for further details.”

 

The travel advice said: “Prolonged power outages – over 24 hours in some instances – are a daily occurrence across the country, affecting water supply, lighting, refrigeration and communications. 

 

“There is also a shortage of fuel affecting transportation and resulting in long queues at petrol stations. The fuel shortage also impacts resorts and businesses which often rely on oil/diesel-powered generators.

 

“Take precautions by conserving fuel, water, food and mobile phone charge, and be prepared for significant disruption.”

 

The Cuban government started imposing strict limitations on the purchase of fuel at petrol stations from Saturday, impacting travel within the country.

 

“You will need to factor this into planning for any journey. Diesel fuel cannot be bought in Cuban pesos or US dollars. Petrol is currently limited to a maximum purchase of 20 litres,” the FCDO noted.

 

Air Canada said it took the decision following advisories issued by governments regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports.

 

It is projected that as of today (Tuesday) aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports.

 

“For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make a technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary,” the airline added.

 

“Air Canada’s immediate priority is to return customers already in Cuba to Canada. It will operate empty ferry flights to the island over the coming days to maintain its regular schedule from Cuba to Canada over the near-term to pick up these customers.

 

“Air Canada currently has approximately 3,000 customers in Cuba, most of whom are travelling on Air Canada Vacations packages.”

 

Air Canada operates on average 16 flights a week to four destinations in Cuba from Toronto and Montreal.

 

Seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara are cancelled for the rest of the season. Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are scheduled to operate year-round but are currently suspended with a tentative restart on May 1 pending a review of the situation.

 

The airline added: “Throughout the process, Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations monitored the situation closely, first introducing a flexible rebooking policy for customers travelling to Cuba.

 

“Air Canada Vacations is now introducing a refund policy, allowing customers who had scheduled departures to Cuba and experienced flight cancellations to automatically receive a full refund in their original form of payment.”