Russian and Canadian tourists depart popular beach resort in Cuba as airlines suspend flights

Описание: (13 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Varadero, Cuba - 12 February 2026
1. Russian tourists getting off buses
2. Tourist with Cuban flag in her backpack
3. Tourist taking baggage out of bus hold
4. Airport board announcing flights, tourist saying "I love you, Cuba" and gesturing a heart to camera
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sofya Butsenka, 20, Russian tourist:
“We had enough time to relax here and we enjoyed our stay. So now we are feeling - well - a bit sorry (to leave), but it's okay."
6. Tourists entering terminal
7. Wide of tourist Andrey Shuvalov smoking outside airport
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrey Shuvalov, Russian tourist:
“I think Russia closed the flight because oil is finished and now the blockade is from USA. Canada also closed the door and so on. But, I don't know, maybe many years ago (from now) we come back to Cuba again."
9. Canadian tourist coming out of classic American car
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Hopkins, Canadian tourist:
“I think it's very sad, and the Cuban people don't deserve this. They need the tourism, it's what the people rely on, and I think everything that Donald Trump's doing is not good.”
11. Various of tourists getting off bus
12. Tourist Roberta Biancardi waiting outside airport
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta Biancardi, Canadian tourist:
“Right now, there are no flights coming in, so unfortunately, we won't be back soon, but we will come back when everything is okay, and I hope that Cuba gets help. Hope Canada helps Cuba, that would be nice.”
14. Tourists entering terminal
STORYLINE:
Russians enjoying the sun on the beaches of Varadero in Cuba have had to cut their vacation short and return to the winter cold back home, as the U.S. energy embargo deepens the island's crisis.

In another blow to the nation's once thriving tourism, two Russian airlines on Wednesday announced that they were going to halt flights to Cuba because of a shortage of aviation fuel.

Russian tourist Andrey Shuvalov said he understood that the lack of fuel was due to measures taken by the United States, but expressed hope that the issue would be resolved soon "so that I can come back here again.”

Moscow's civil aviation authority said that two major Russian airlines were helping to repatriate its citizens.

Aeroflot said it would bring four more empty planes to Cuba to fly passengers home before it suspends flights on the 24th of February.

Earlier this week, Air Canada also suspended service to Cuba because of fuel shortages.

“It is very sad,” said Canadian tourist Roberta Biancardi, who expressed hope her country would come to the assistance of Cuba.

Tourism in Cuba is plummeting at a time when the island desperately needs that revenue, with the number of visitors dropping by nearly 70% since 2018.

Russian and Canadian tourism is vital to Cuba’s economy.

Global Affairs Canada, a government office, says Canada is Cuba’s second-largest source of direct investment in the island, particularly in the mining and tourism sectors, which have not fully recovered from the pandemic slump.

Air Canada is also sending empty flights southbound to pick up approximately 3,000 customers to bring them home but will stop flights to Cuba by February 16.

At the end of January, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has called Trump's actions an "energy blockade" and said it was affecting transportation, hospitals, schools, tourism, and food production.

AP Video by Milexsy Durán



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