The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Cuba, advising against all but essential travel to the island. The warning, issued on 11 February, effectively invalidates standard travel insurance for new trips, though those already in Cuba remain covered while making arrangements to leave.
The advisory comes amid severe fuel shortages and power outages in Cuba, exacerbated by tightened US sanctions. The FCDO warned that flight schedules are being disrupted due to aviation fuel shortages, with some airlines cancelling services, potentially leaving visitors unable to leave the country.
British travellers currently in Cuba are urged to “carefully consider if your presence is essential” and to take precautions by conserving fuel, water, food and mobile phone charge. The FCDO also advised checking for messages from airlines or tour operators.
The fuel crisis follows the US seizure of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January, disrupting a key oil supply source. An executive order by US President Donald Trump imposed punitive tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba, leading to a drying up of supplies from Mexican suppliers who had initially filled the gap.
Cuba’s aviation authorities issued a Notice to Air Missions warning that Jet A1 fuel will not be available until at least 11 March at major airports including Havana, Varadero and Santiago de Cuba. Air Canada has cancelled its entire weekly programme of 32 flights between Canada and Cuba, while WestJet has also cancelled some services. Air Canada plans to use “ferry flights” to bring stranded passengers home and will tanker extra fuel for remaining flights, making technical stops if necessary.
European airlines such as Iberia, Air France and Turkish Airlines are likely to make technical stops to refuel on return legs. For example, an Air France flight from Havana to Paris departed early to refuel in Nassau, Bahamas, arriving on schedule.
