Canadian airlines suspend services to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

Several Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat, suspended their services to Cuba, citing an aviation fuel shortage on the island. This suspension comes as the US tightens its grip on the nation’s oil supply by blocking shipments from Venezuela.

A statement by the Air Canada airline said that it will operate empty flights to Cuba to pick up and return customers. Over the following days, the empty flights will pick up nearly three thousand passengers already at their destination and return them home. It is projected that by tomorrow, aviation fuel will not be commercially available at the island’s airports.