The energy crisis in Cuba has reached an unprecedented critical point. This week, the island’s aeronautical authorities extended the official alert of unavailability of aircraft fuel (JET A1) at all its international airports. The restriction, which was originally due to expire on March 11, has been officially extended until April 10, 2026.
This notice, registered using the Notam technical code “JET A1 FUEL NOT AVBL”, forces airlines around the world to drastically modify their operations so as not to be stranded in Cuban territory.
AFFECTED AIRPORTS AND OPERATIONAL CHAOS
The measure affects the nine terminals that manage the country’s international traffic, including strategic points such as:
- Havana (José Martí)
- Varadero (Juan Gualberto Gómez)
- Cayo Coco (Jardines del Rey)
- Holguin and Santiago de Cuba
THE IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Given the impossibility of refueling on the island, airlines have activated contingency plans that make tickets more expensive and complicate routes:
- Iberia and Air Europa: Make technical stopovers in the Dominican Republic.
- Air France: Uses the Bahamas as a logistical support point.
- Air Canada: Has suspended commercial flights, operating only repatriation routes.
- Russian Airlines: They have temporarily canceled connections, dealing a severe blow to the Eurasian market.
THE END OF VENEZUELAN OIL: THE ORIGIN OF THE PARALYSIS
The root of this shortage is geopolitical. After the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026 and the end of the military operation in Venezuela, Washington cut off the supply of oil that represented 30% of the island’s energy.
Added to this is the executive order of President Donald Trump, who has threatened with tariffs on any nation (including Mexico and Russia) that supplies crude oil to Cuba, calling the island a “risk to national security.” Cuba only produces a third of what it consumes and has been left without viable external alternatives.
CUBAN TOURISM: FIGURES AT HISTORICAL LOW
The moment could not be worse for the Cuban economy. The tourism sector, the main driving force of the island, is sinking compared to direct competitors such as Cancún and Punta Cana:
| Year | Foreign Visitors | Context |
| 2019 | 4.2 million | Pre-pandemic |
| 2024 | 2.2 million | Continuous descent |
| 2025 | 1.8 million | Acute energy crisis |
| January 2026 | 184,833 | Worst figure in 13 years |
Hotel occupancy is alarming: according to the ONEI, between January and September 2025 it was only 18.9%. In real terms, four out of five rooms are empty.
WHERE IS THE ISLAND GOING?
While the Cuban dictatorship declares that it is open to dialogue, Donald Trump has urged Havana to negotiate “before it is too late.” However, the extension of the energy blockade until April suggests that negotiations are at a standstill.
The lack of kerosene is not just a logistical problem; It is the symptom of a structural deterioration that threatens to isolate Cuba from the international aerial map indefinitely.
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