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The Spanish airline Iberia recently expressed its concern about the low profitability of its flights to Cuba, in contrast to the strong performance of its routes to the United States and Puerto Rico.
In statements to the specialized media Reportur, Iberia's Global Sales Director, Beatriz Guillén, noted that ticket sales from Madrid to U.S. destinations and Puerto Rico have been strong, while demand for Cuba is "quite variable," with fluctuating cycles in tourism.
Currently, Havana is going through one of those less favorable cycles. Although occupancy levels are acceptable, the shortage of airplanes has led the airline to prioritize other more profitable markets, the management indicated.
Exodus of airlines: Iberia, Edelweiss, United, and others reduce or eliminate flights to Cuba
In recent years, several international airlines have reduced or canceled their flights to Cuba due to decreased demand and operational challenges.
Below are some of the companies that have taken these measures:
Edelweiss Air
The Swiss airline Edelweiss Air announced that it will suspend its flights to Cuba starting in March 2025. This decision primarily affects the route between Zurich and Havana, operated with the Airbus A340. According to the company, the reason for this measure is the difficulty in ensuring stable and reliable long-distance operations at Havana Airport, as well as a decrease in passenger demand.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines
In September 2023, American airlines United Airlines and Delta Air Lines announced a reduction in their flights to Cuba due to a decline in demand.
United Airlines suspended its route between Newark and Havana starting October 29, 2023, which eliminated the direct connection between New York and the Cuban capital.
For its part, Delta Air Lines requested a waiver to temporarily reduce its frequencies between Atlanta and Havana, as well as between Miami and Havana, during the winter season of 2023-2024.
JetBlue Airways
In August 2023, JetBlue announced the suspension of all its flights to Cuba starting September 17 of the same year.
The airline, which was a pioneer in reinstating direct commercial flights to Cuba in 2016, cited changes in the regulatory landscape and restrictions affecting its customers' ability to travel to the island as the main reasons for this decision.
Iberojet
The Spanish airline Iberojet announced in August 2023 the cancellation of its route between Madrid and Santiago de Cuba, which was launched less than a year earlier, due to "operational reasons." The last flight on that route took place on September 29, 2023.
Later, in November 2023, Iberojet announced the cancellation of all its flights to Cuba starting in January 2024, citing the lack of profitability of these routes.
Condor
The German airline Cóndor has decided to cease its operations to Cuba in 2025, thereby eliminating the only direct connection between Germany and the island. This decision adds to a series of cancellations that have affected Cuba's air connectivity with Europe.
TUI and Avianca
Other airlines, such as British TUI and Colombian Avianca, have also reduced or canceled their flights to Cuba in recent years, responding to low demand and operational challenges on the island.
These decisions reflect a troubling trend for the Cuban tourism sector, which faces significant challenges in terms of air connectivity and attracting international visitors. The decline in tourist arrivals negatively impacts the island's economy, which relies heavily on revenue generated by tourism.
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