Russia will temporarily suspend its flights to Cuba after serious difficulties were reported in refueling at airports on the island, Russian aviation authorities reported this Wednesday, in a setback that exposes the persistent energy and management problems facing the Caribbean country.
The Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia (Rosaviatsia) stated in a communiqué that the airlines Rossiya, a subsidiary of the Aeroflot group, and Nordwind were forced to adjust their schedules due to the impossibility of guaranteeing the supply of Jet A-1 fuel in Cuban territory.
As an immediate measure, Rossiya will operate in the coming days several flights only outbound from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to repatriate Russian tourists. Once those operations are completed, the service will be suspended until further notice.
Russian authorities stated that the decision was adopted "in the interest of passengers" and that they are maintaining contact with Cuban authorities to seek solutions that will allow connections in both directions to be restored. However, the interruption of the supply highlights a logistical crisis that directly affects international air transport to the island.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) published on February 10 a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning that Jet A-1 fuel is not available at nine Cuban airports, including Havana, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, and Manzanillo. The notice will remain in effect until March 11, which points to a prolonged problem and not a one-off interruption.
