Cuban Crisis of the 21st Century: Flights Cancelled, Tourism Disrupted, Advisors Overwhelmed
February 10, 2026 Team Contibutor
This winter’s travel season has been upended for Canadian vacationers with close to 900,000 Canadians typically choosing Cuba as their winter escape — a vital market for both the island’s tourism economy and Canada’s sun-destination demand.
Major Canadian carriers and tour operators, including Air Canada, WestJet/Sunwing Vacations, and Air Transat, announced sweeping flight suspensions and changes due to a severe aviation fuel shortage on the island. Air Canada has suspended all flights to Cuba effective immediately, citing the lack of Jet A-1 fuel available at Cuban airports, and has begun operating empty “ferry” flights southbound to repatriate approximately 3,000 Canadian travellers currently in destination.
Air Transat has also temporarily suspended all flights to Cuba through April 30, 2026, automatically cancelling and refunding booked trips while arranging return flights for travellers already on the island. Meanwhile, WestJet and its affiliated Sunwing Vacations have introduced flexible rebooking and cancellation options for affected departures, allowing customers to change dates or destinations with waived fees.
Why the Disruptions Are Happening
Cuban authorities have warned that aviation fuel supplies are effectively unavailable at major airports including Havana, Varadero, and Cayo Coco, largely due to a widening energy and oil supply crisis linked to broader economic pressures and external geopolitical factors. U.S.–imposed restrictions on oil shipments from traditional suppliers such as Venezuela and Mexico have deeply strained Cuba’s ability to import fuel — not just for aviation, but for transport and public services across the island.
Impact on Cuba and Its People
The shortage goes far beyond aviation. With fuel rationed, public transportation systems and taxis are limited, leaving many residents and tourists struggling to move around the island, and long lines at gas stations have led to tension and scarcity in everyday life. Earlier blackouts and energy rationing have disrupted schools, public services, and essential infrastructure — compounding hardship for Cubans already facing a fragile economy and declining tourism revenue.
Many resorts have temporarily closed or consolidated operations to conserve resources, and Cuban authorities have implemented emergency measures prioritizing fuel for healthcare and critical services. The reduced tourism also directly affects Cuban workers whose livelihoods depend on foreign visitors.
A Travel Market in Turmoil
For Canadian travel advisors, the situation has quickly become a scramble. Thousands of winter vacations have been disrupted, forcing agents to manage everything from refunds and rebookings to frustrated clients seeking alternate options. Agents report that “nothing can replace Cuba” in terms of available capacity, given tight resort inventories across the Caribbean and Mexico and limited flight availability elsewhere.
With Cuba off the schedule for many operators and other markets already full or constrained, the usual alternatives — such as Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta, or Jamaica — are unlikely to absorb the overflow without significant price hikes and limited availability. This leaves travellers with fewer options and agents facing intense pressure to find workable replacements on short notice.
What This Means Going Forward
The combination of an aviation fuel crisis, widespread cancellations, and constrained capacity in alternative destinations underscores how delicate international travel infrastructure can be when a key source market and destination suddenly shift.
For Destinations reliant on Canadian travellers, the loss of winter season traffic presents both an economic blow and a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global tourism, energy stability, and geopolitical pressures.
Related Post:
About the Author
