Out of Gas: Air Canada Suspends Cuba Flights as Aviation Fuel Runs Out

Effective today, Air Canada is suspending service to Cuba due to an ongoing shortage of aviation fuel on the island. 

Over the next few days, the airline will operate empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers in destination and return them home.

The airline 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 Tuesday, February 10 aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports. 

For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make a technical stop to refuel on the return journey if necessary.

Air Canada says it will continue to monitor the situation to determine an appropriate restart of normal service to Cuba at a future date.

Most of the customers in Cuba are travelling on Air Canada Vacations packages. Earlier, AC and ACV has announced a flexible rebooking policy for Cuba-bound travellers. 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.

ACV says customers currently in Cuba on one of its packages can receive direct support from Air Canada Vacations’ local representatives, who are available to address any questions or concerns.

Air Canada’s Normal Cuba Schedule

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.
• Once weekly 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.

At present, seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara are cancelled for the rest of the winter season. 

Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco are scheduled to operate year round. They are now suspended with a tentative restart on May 1, depending on the situation nearer to that date.

Air Canada says it will look to redeploy the aircraft normally used for Cuba flights to other destinations.