Some Airlines Are Targeting This Date to Resume Flights to Cuba

Airlines are circling May 1, 2026, as the first realistic date to restart Cuba routes after weeks of jet fuel disruption that scrambled schedules across North America and Europe.

Cuban aviation officials warned carriers that Jet A 1 would not be available for refueling at nine international airports beginning Feb. 10, forcing airlines to suspend long haul service or build fuel stops into routings. Officials said the restriction window could last through at least March 11.

Russian carriers shifted to evacuation flights, with reporting estimating about 4,000 tourists affected. Canadian airlines suspended service. Other carriers began transporting tanker fuel or adding regional refueling stops to keep aircraft operating safely. Cuban officials have not announced a firm restoration timeline.

Air Transat suspended flights to Cuba through April 30 and said service may resume as early as May 1 if fuel conditions stabilize. Air Canada cited the same tentative restart window for some routes, contingent on reliable supply and operational readiness.

WestJet paused service shortly after the fuel notice, citing safety planning requirements and uncertainty around refueling availability for return legs.

Lofty Ambitions

Airline officials have stressed that May 1 is a planning benchmark, not a reopening guarantee.

International routes require weeks of schedule rebuilding, crew assignments and ground handling coordination. Airlines need steady, confirmed fuel deliveries well in advance before committing aircraft back into a market.

No carrier has formally reopened full Cuba bookings. Restoration decisions hinge on verified fuel availability and airport level readiness.

Cuban aviation authorities, including the Instituto de Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba, have acknowledged fuel constraints but have not provided a definitive normalization date. State fuel provider Unión Cuba Petróleo has not released shipment volumes or replenishment schedules.

Military.com reached out to the Instituto de Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Unión Cuba Petróleo for comment.

Regional Workarounds Keep Traffic Moving

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global trade body representing more than 360 airlines, confirmed it is coordinating regional contingency efforts as carriers adjust operations to and from Cuba.

Given the current fuel supply issues in Cuba, IATA is engaging with the local authorities in order to support the continued functioning for the aviation eco system in the country - Markus Ruediger of the International Air Transport Association to Military.com.

“IATA is presently coordinating the use of alternative airports in the region as fuel stops so that airlines can opt to maintain operations to Cuba,” he added.

Regional fuel stops allow aircraft to land in nearby countries to refuel before continuing onward, reducing reliance on constrained Cuban supplies. The approach extends flight times and raises operating costs.

Ruediger said airlines are making decisions based on aircraft type, payload limits and commercial viability. Some are tankering fuel for both legs. Others are adding technical stops while some have suspended service entirely.

The IATA does not direct airline schedules but provides coordination and safety guidance during disruptions affecting multiple carriers.

Airlines Reroute

Russian carriers including Rossiya Airlines and Nordwind Airlines pivoted to return only flights after the fuel warning, prioritizing evacuation of tourists before suspending normal commercial operations.

Aircraft flew into Havana and Varadero without passengers and departed full, minimizing reliance on uncertain refueling capacity.

Carriers that continued operating relied on costly workarounds. Tanker-ing allowed aircraft to depart origin cities with enough fuel for both legs of a trip. Others inserted technical fuel stops in nearby Caribbean airports. Both strategies increased operating costs but preserved route continuity.

U.S. carriers largely maintained service. Flights from Florida to Havana and other Cuban destinations are short enough to complete round trips without refueling locally.

American Airlines said it was monitoring the situation while maintaining its schedule.

Southwest Airlines required aircraft operating to Havana to carry enough fuel to reach an alternate airport without relying on Cuban refueling. Delta Air Lines also continued service.

Military.com reached out to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines for comment.

Energy Crunch Drives Wider Disruption

Cuba has described the aviation disruption as part of a broader fuel crunch that has hit transportation and daily life, with officials rolling out rationing measures as the energy picture tightened.

State media reports described rationing measures and reduced fuel allocations as authorities sought to prioritize critical sectors including health care and food distribution.

Public transportation routes were scaled back in some regions and intermittent power generation constraints added strain to the island’s infrastructure. Tourism, a major source of foreign currency revenue, faced additional pressure as airlines suspended long-haul routes and travelers reconsidered spring bookings.

Mexican Navy ships later arrived with humanitarian aid as Cuban leaders warned the crisis was squeezing schools, hospitals, tourism and basic services. Officials attributed the shortages to tightening import constraints and supply chain disruptions, while signaling efforts to stabilize deliveries.

Aviation fuel is drawn from the same constrained national supply system, making international flight operations particularly vulnerable when domestic allocations tighten.

Fuel Stability Will Decide Timeline

Fuel supply remains the decisive factor.

Airlines cannot restart international routes overnight. They must publish schedules, assign crews, secure ground services and confirm reliable fuel access before reopening ticket sales. Even short interruptions can ripple across aircraft rotations and seasonal planning.

Steady fuel deliveries through March and April could clear a path for early May restarts. Uncertainty in supply could push decisions deeper into the summer schedule.