MONTREAL — Air Canada is suspending its service to Cuba due to an ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island.
Air Canada has cancelled its seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara for the rest of the season – and has temporarily suspended its flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco until at least May 1 – amid Cuba’s warning that nine major airports on the island will no longer have enough fuel to refuel international aircraft.
As reported earlier today, Cuba’s biggest airport, José Martí International Airport in Havana, issued the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) on Feb. 8 for key gateways including Havana, Holguin, Varadero, Santiago de Cuba and more, and will be in effect from Feb. 10 to March 11.
While Air Canada’s flights Varadero and Cayo Coco were scheduled to operate year round, this service is now suspended with a tentative restart, pending review, on May 1.
Air Canada said it will look to redeploy the aircraft to other destinations.
REPATRIATION FLIGHTS
Over the next several days Air Canada will operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers already at destination and return them home.
Air Canada says it took the decision “following advisories issued by governments (NOTAMs) regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports. It is projected that as of February 10 aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports.”
For remaining flights, Air Canada says it will tanker in extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary.
Air Canada will continue to monitor the situation to determine an appropriate restart of normal service to Cuba at a future date.
IMMEDIATE PRIORITY: “RETURN CUSTOMERS ALREADY IN CUBA TO CANADA”
Air Canada says its 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 on ACV packages.
“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. There is no need for these customers to contact the Air Canada Vacations’ Contact Centre,” say the companies.
Air Canada notes that customers currently in Cuba who booked an ACV package can receive direct support from ACV’s local reps.
ACV’s refund information page is here. “In response to aviation fuel shortages and ongoing developments in Cuba, we have suspended operations to the island and cancelled bookings to Cuba until May 1, 2026. Air Canada Vacations will continue to monitor the situation to determine an appropriate restart of normal service at a future date,” says the tour operator.
Air Canada operates on average 16 weekly flights to four destinations in Cuba from Toronto and Montreal. These include:
From Toronto …
- 4 times weekly to Jardines del Rey Airport in Cayo Coco
- 2 times weekly to Frank País Airport in Holguín
- 4 times weekly to Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Varadero
- 1 weekly flight to Abel Santamaría Airport in Santa Clara
From Montreal …
- 3 times weekly to Jardines del Rey Airport in Cayo Coco
- 2 times weekly to Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Varadero
