Air France to suspend Paris–Havana flights amid Cuba fuel crisis

Air France has announced a temporary suspension of its flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Havana in response to a severe jet fuel shortage affecting Cuba’s aviation sector. The French carrier said services will halt at the end of March and are expected to remain suspended until mid-June, with plans to resume operations from 15 June if conditions improve.

The decision stems from a broader energy and fuel crisis on the Caribbean island, which has left major airports, including Havana’s José Martí International, without adequate supplies of aviation fuel. Airlines had already been informed in early February that jet fuel would not be available at several Cuban airports, forcing some flights to make technical stops in neighbouring countries such as the Bahamas for refuelling.

Air France currently operates three weekly Boeing 787 services to Havana. The airline said passengers affected by the suspension will be contacted directly and offered options including rebooking, vouchers, or full refunds at no additional cost.

The suspension adds to a growing list of carriers that have scaled back or halted service to Cuba amid the ongoing shortage, including Canadian and Russian airlines. The disruption is widely seen as a significant blow to Cuba’s fragile tourism industry, which has struggled with compounded economic pressures in recent months.