Thousands of Canadians are facing travel uncertainty as Cuba grapples with a major aviation fuel shortage, forcing airlines to suspend flights and activate emergency contingency plans.

Cuban officials confirmed that jet fuel would be unavailable at airports nationwide, disrupting both domestic and international operations. The situation has no clear timeline for resolution, leaving travellers — including more than 7,200 registered Canadians currently in Cuba — scrambling for updates.

Air Transat has suspended all flights to Cuba until April 30, cancelling bookings and promising refunds. The airline says repatriation flights are being organized to bring Canadians home. Meanwhile, WestJet, Sunwing, and WestJet Vacationshave halted ticket sales and are winding down winter operations, focusing on returning passengers safely to Canada.

For travellers like Meisam Salahi, vacationing in Varadero with his young children, the uncertainty has been stressful. “We just want to go back home safely,” he said.

The crisis comes as Cuba faces its worst economic downturn in decades, compounded by halted Mexican oil shipments and U.S. pressure threatening tariffs on countries supplying fuel to the island.

With tourism serving as a critical lifeline for Cuba’s economy, the aviation shutdown adds another layer of instability — impacting not only visitors but the broader Caribbean travel industry.