Russian airlines will temporarily suspend flights to Cuba following the evacuation of tourists who were stranded on the Caribbean island due to the fuel crisis announced by the Miguel Diáz-Canel regime this week, according to information from the Russian civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia.
“Due to difficulties in supplying aviation fuel in Cuba, the airlines Rossiya (part of the Aeroflot group) and Nordwind were forced to modify their flight schedule to Cuban airports,” said the state agency’s press office on Telegram, this Wednesday (11).
According to Rosaviatsia, “in the coming days, Rossiya will operate several return flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to ensure the return of Russian tourists.”
“Thereafter, the airline’s flight schedule will be temporarily suspended until the situation changes,” he added.
The agency also noted that the Russian Ministry of Transport and Rosaviatsia “are closely monitoring the situation of flights between the two countries and are in constant contact with Cuban aviation authorities.”
In turn, Russian tour operator Pegas Touristik announced the suspension of sales of nine tour packages.
“The situation is stable and under control. All tourists in Cuba will return to Russia in an organized manner and within the scheduled deadline,” the company stated.
According to tourism authorities, in recent days there were approximately 4,000 Russian tourists stranded on the largest island in the Antilles.
Russia is the second largest source of tourists to Cuba, after Canada, with a forecast of 131,000 travelers in 2025.
Russia admits Cuba’s “critical” situation amid US pressure
The Kremlin reacted to the situation, declaring that Russia is working with Cuban authorities to find solutions and will do “everything possible” to assist with the airport crisis and facilitate the return of Russian tourists, following Havana’s announcement that it has run out of aviation fuel.
“We are maintaining close contact with our Cuban friends through diplomatic channels,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, noting that “the situation in Cuba is really critical.”
The Russian spokesman stated that “these stifling US measures are creating great difficulties for the country”, adding that Moscow and Havana are studying “possible ways to solve these problems, or at least alleviate them”.
The Cuban regime warned international airlines operating on the island last Sunday that, starting this Monday, the country would run out of aviation fuel due to the US oil blockade.
