Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

Air Canada AC-T has suspended flights to Cuba as the U.S. oil blockade causes fuel shortages in the Caribbean country.

Montreal-based Air Canada said on Monday it will fly home the 3,000 customers on the island but has ceased all southbound passenger flights. Aviation fuel supplies in Cuba will run out by Feb. 10, the airline said. “For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey,” it said.

Cuba is rationing fuel after the U.S. cut off its main supply from Venezuela in December. Mexico, Cuba’s next largest supplier, ceased selling to Cuba in late January after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that supplied it with oil.

Air Canada flies to four Cuban destinations about 16 times a week from Toronto and Montreal.

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