Cuba power grid collapse leaves millions without electricity

Millions of people across Cuba were left without electricity Monday (Mar.16) after the country’s national power grid collapsed, plunging much of the island — including Havana — into darkness.

State power operator UNE said early Tuesday that electricity was gradually being restored in parts of the country, but the outage is the latest in a series of widespread blackouts tied to Cuba’s worsening energy crisis.

Aging infrastructure and ongoing fuel shortages have strained the system, with the situation compounded by restrictions on oil shipments. 

Cuba relies heavily on imported fuel, and supply disruptions in recent months have made electricity generation increasingly unstable.

The blackout adds to mounting challenges already affecting daily life on the island, including shortages of food and medicine. 

The energy crisis has also been impacting travel to the destination, including service from Canadian airlines.

As PAX previously reported, Air Canada has pushed back the return of its Cuba service until November 1, 2026, citing ongoing operational issues including power outages and hotel closures on the island.

The airline suspended flights to Cuba on Feb. 9 due to unreliable aviation fuel supply, and customers booked between May 1 and Oct. 31 are being contacted with options, including the ability to change destinations.

Other Canadian carriers have also adjusted operations. 

Air Transat’s temporary suspension is currently in place until at least April 30, while Sunwing flights are paused through at least April 25, with no confirmed restart date for WestJet service.

The broader situation continues to create uncertainty for travellers, as fuel shortages, infrastructure strain and service disruptions ripple across the island’s tourism sector.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he could soon strike a deal with Cuba or take other action.

The president indicated that changes might be coming in the strained U.S.-Cuba relationship, which has long been shaped by trade sanctions, diplomatic tensions, disputes over security, migration issues, and economic policies.

“Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do,” Trump told reportedly told reporters on Air Force One.

“We’re talking to Cuba, but we’re going to do Iran before Cuba." 

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