As U.S. squeezes Cuba’s oil supply, airlines rethink flights and Havana rations health services

Air Canada aircraft sit parked at Vancouver International Airport as a United Airlines flight from Chicago prepares to land, in Richmond, B.C., on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s largest airline has said it is suspending flights to Cuba due to a shortage of aviation fuel on the island – a move that comes amid a U.S. orchestrated squeeze on the country’s oil supply that has also forced Havana to ration health, transport and school services.

Air Canada said it stopped service to Cuba on Monday but would still carry out “ferry flights” to pick up about 3,000 customers in the country and return them home, while some other airlines said they would continue flying to the Caribbean country but rethink their logistics.

“For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey, if necessary,” said Air Canada, which operates an average of 16 weekly flights to Cuba.

The Spanish airliners Iberia and Air Europa said their services to the island would continue, but flights from Madrid to Havana would need to land in the Dominican Republic to refuel. Meanwhile, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico told CNN they would continue their operations – with American saying their aircraft could carry enough fuel for the return flights.

The development comes as the U.S. attempts to cut its long-time communist foe Havana off from receiving oil deliveries from its regional neighbours, a move that has exacerbated a long-standing fuel crisis on the Caribbean island. On Sunday, Cuba warned airlines that jet fuel would not be available from February 10 to March 11.

In 2025, Cuba welcomed more than 754,000 visitors from Canada, more than any other country, according to the Cuban National Office of Statistics and Information. That year, the country also reported more than 110,000 visitors from the U.S., over 56,000 from Mexico and 46,000 from Spain.

Cuba rations resources

The blow to the country’s tourism industry follows announcements by Havana that it will ration resources in hospitals and prioritize urgent medical care as part of nationwide austerity measures in response to the energy crisis.

Under the measures, hospital stays and surgical activity will be limited whenever possible.

“(The measures aim) to significantly preserve these essential services, reorganize capabilities, concentrate resources where they are most needed, and ensure the continuity of services to the population,” Health Minister José Angel Portal Miranda said Monday.

Other emergency measures announced by the government in response to the energy crisis include reducing school hours, postponing major sporting and cultural events, and cutting transport services.

The dwindling fuel supply has also left Cubans facing constant blackouts and long lines at gas stations.

Cuban officials have said existing U.S. economic sanctions are largely to blame for the energy crisis, although critics also fault a lack of government investment in infrastructure.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío told CNN last week that the government was ready for “meaningful” dialogue with the U.S. to address their differences – but it was not prepared to discuss regime change.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said Cuba can avoid a total cut-off by striking “a deal” with the U.S., one potentially requiring the return of property confiscated from Cuban exiles who left the island following the 1959 revolution.

International support

Trump has also called on Mexico to suspend oil shipments to Cuba, but Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she wants to find a diplomatic solution so her country can continue sending oil to the island without being hit with U.S. tariffs.

“This sanction being imposed on countries that sell oil to Cuba is very unfair, very unfair. It’s not right, because sanctions that affect the people are not right. One may agree or disagree with the regime in Cuba, but the people should never be harmed,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico is traditionally the second biggest supplier of oil to Havana after Venezuela – but supplies from Caracas have already been disrupted following the capture by U.S. special forces of its President Nicolas Maduro, making Mexico’s contribution even more vital.

The Mexican government on Sunday shipped more than 800 tons of humanitarian aid to the country, and Sheinbaum promised that more support would follow.

“We are going to help the people of Cuba, as we have always helped people in need,” she insisted.

Russia, a longtime ally of Cuba, said Monday that the situation in the country was “truly critical.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the U.S. of implementing a “chokehold” on Cuba.

He said Moscow was discussing ways to solve the problem or at least provide assistance.

“We are in intensive contact with our Cuban friends through diplomatic and other channels,” he said.

By Michael Rios