Airlines «Russia» («Aeroflot») and Nordwind Airlines are temporarily suspending flights to Cuba due to an acute shortage of aviation fuel on the island. The cancellation of flights is due to a shortage of aviation kerosene that arose after the introduction of American sanctions, which makes it impossible to refuel aircraft in Cuba for return to Russia.
In the coming days «Russia» will operate a number of flights only in the opposite direction — from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to take out Russian tourists in Cuba. After this, the flight program will be temporarily suspended «until the situation changes».
In addition to «Russia» and Nordwind, the Venezuelan Conviasa operates on the Russia-Cuba route, however, it is also ceasing its flight program.
Fuel difficulties in Cuba were officially documented in a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation NOTAM issued on February 8, 2026. According to the document, from February 10 to March 11, aviation fuel will be unavailable at all nine international airports in the country, including José Martí International Airport in Havana. It is worth emphasizing that the notification was issued for a month and does not mean that fuel will appear in Cuba after the deadlines specified in it.
As we have already written, the fuel crisis in Cuba has already led to massive disruptions for Russian guest countries. The cancellation of flights from Russia to Cuba began on February 8. According to tour operators, at the beginning of February there were over 4 thousand Russian tourists in Cuba who arrived on organized programs. To deliver them back to Russia, the «Russia» organizes additional return flights.
The route through Cuba has in recent years become one of the key destinations for tourists from Russia traveling to Mexico. Despite the need for a transfer from Varadero to Havana, this route allowed safe and secure access to Mexican resorts, including Cancun, Merida and Mexico City, unlike routes through Turkey or the UAE, where additional flight difficulties often arose.
Now Russians will have to use other available routes to fly to Mexico: through Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), Beijing (Hainan Airlines) or with transfers through airports in Europe and the USA.