Global airlines are bracing for a looming jet fuel crisis, with industry experts warning of possible shortages as early as next month. 

The disruption, linked to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threatens long‑haul flight operations.

Airlines have been warned that they could face jet fuel shortages as soon as next month, raising the risk of flight cancellations to long‑haul destinations at the end of the busy Easter holiday period.

According to The Times, oil traders expect shortages of jet fuel within the coming weeks due to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as reserve supplies are being depleted and not replenished.

This week, Vietnam became the first country to warn of possible flight cancellations from April, after China and Thailand announced they were halting exports of fuel to safeguard their own supplies.

Other countries are expected to follow suit in the coming days, with industry experts cautioning that airlines may be forced to suspend services to certain long‑haul destinations if they cannot secure fuel for return journeys.

Britain is also vulnerable to potential disruption if the conflict continues, as the majority of the country’s imported jet fuel comes from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. (Newswire, The Times)

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Which airlines have suspended services to Cuba?

Two more Canadian airlines, Air Transat and WestJet, announced a halt in flights to Cuba.

Air Transat said it was canceling all flights to Cuba until at least April 30. This follows “the rapid developments of the past few hours and the announcement by Cuban authorities of an anticipated aviation fuel shortage at destination airports,” it said in a statement.

Cuba warned on Sunday that jet fuel will be unavailable at airports across the island beginning 10 February through 11 March.

WestJet announced an “orderly wind-down” of its services, adding it would begin sending empty planes to Cuba stocked with extra fuel to bring customers home.

These latest flight suspensions come after Air Canada said on Monday that it was stopping services to Cuba due to a lack of guaranteed fuel supply.

The airline said it will send empty flights to pick up and fly home about 3,000 customers in Cuba.

Similar crises have prompted carriers to refuel in nearby third countries including Panama, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the United States.

The fuel shortage is a further economic blow to the country that relies heavily on tourism.

Why doesn’t Cuba have oil and jet fuel?

Historically, Venezuela was the biggest supplier of oil and jet fuel to Cuba followed by Mexico.

Venezuela provided about one-third of the island’s daily needs in 2025.

But Cuba hasn’t received any crude or refined products from the South American country since mid-December when the US started blocking Venezuelan oil exports to the communist-run island.

This was even before US troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in early January. 

Mexico only ever shipped a fraction of the oil that came from Venezuela.

But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Monday that oil shipments to Cuba are “on hold”  following US President Donald Trump threats to impose tariffs on any country that provides oil to the Caribbean island.

Why has Germany issued a travel warning for Cuba?

Germany advised on Tuesday against all non-essential travel to Cuba

“Cuba is facing an acute energy crisis, which is also being compounded by widespread dilapidated energy infrastructure,” the German foreign ministry said in the advisory.

The country is facing “significant shortages in energy and fuel supplies, which are affecting all areas of life” including medical care, it said.

“Public transport, street lighting, traffic lights, cash machines, communication and security systems are already severely restricted or may fail,” it said.

How bad is Cuba’s energy crisis?

The oil shortages have threatened to plunge Cuba into complete darkness, with power plants struggling to keep the lights on.

The Cuban government has announced emergency measures, including a four-day working week for state-owned companies and fuel sale restrictions.

Cuban officials also announced Monday that bank hours have been reduced and cultural events suspended.

In the capital Havana, the public bus system has effectively ground to a halt, leaving residents stranded as endemic power outages and grueling fuel lines reach a breaking point. (DW)

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Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku told Parliament that six airlines, including SriLankan Airlines, have defaulted on embarkation levy payments totalling Rs. 27.6 billion to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

SriLankan Airlines accounts for Rs. 24.6 billion of the total. The remaining defaulters are AirAsia Berhad (Rs. 88 million), Aeroflot Russia (Rs. 508 million), Air India (Rs. 57 million), Thai Air Asia (Rs. 221 million), and Fits Aviation (Rs. 2,126 million), he revealed.

Responding to a question from opposition MP Kins Nelson, the minister said the CAA has initiated steps to recover the outstanding amounts, with notices sent via email and formal communication.

“Their bank guarantees have been liquidated to a certain extent to recover some of the dues. However, the issue is that our Aviation Act does not provide the necessary provisions to do so, and there are no provisions under the Finance Act to take legal action against them,” he said.

Therefore, a Cabinet paper has been submitted to introduce the required legal provisions, Kodithuwakku said. (Newswire)

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Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, has been further remanded until 15 July 2025.

He was further remanded after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today. 

Wickramasinghe, who is the brother of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation by the Bribery Commission. 

Three corruption-related charges have been filed against Wickramasinghe related to incidents that occurred during his tenure at the national carrier in 2014, resulting in financial losses to the government.

The charges filed by the Bribery Commission are as follows;

1. Flight Diversion Loss – On January 22, 2014, flight UL319, scheduled to operate from Kuala Lumpur to Katunayake, was diverted, reportedly causing a financial loss of USD 4,512 to the state.
2. Passenger Diversion Loss – On January 26, 2014, 75 passengers travelling from the Maldives to France via Colombo were sent from flight UL563. The commission alleges this action led to a loss of USD 19,160.
3. Misuse of State Funds – On December 19, 2014, Rs. 1.25 million of government funds were allegedly used for election campaign activities at the 18th Mile Post Grounds in Katunayake, in support of the former President. (Newswire)

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SriLankan Airlines celebrated the power of women in the airline with a flight operated by an all-female crew on Women’s Day 2023, which is commemorated today (08). 

The airline said in a statement that flight UL131 departed to Trichy in India this morning.

It was staffed by Captain Chamika Rupasinghe; First Officer Bimalee Jeewandara; Purser Roshani Dissanayake; Cabin Supervisor Upuli Warnakula; and Flight Attendants Lakmini Dissanayake, Jayakalani Kinson and Harshi Walpola Kankanamalage. (NewsWire)

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Vistara airlines will resume flight operations to Sri Lanka from Wednesday, 1st March 2023, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake announced. 

The carrier, Tata SIA Airlines Limited operating as Vistara, is a joint venture between Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd and Singapore Airlines. 

The BIA said in a statement, that the airline will resume operations from the Katunayake airport.

The BIA further stated that Vistara will resume operations between Colombo and Mumbai, India from today. (NewsWire)

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