A charter flight between Miami and Santa Clara took off with only about ten passengers, as shown on Instagram by the Cuban content creator residing in the United States Yusmani Companioni (@yusmanicompanioni), who documented the experience during the trip.
In a video, the influencer showed the inside of the airplane and the large number of empty seats. "At any moment, they might suspend flights to Cuba due to a lack of passengers and luggage," he commented.
This is a scene that contrasts with previous years, when these routes were often filled with travelers and luggage.
The creator himself stated that he enjoys traveling to the Island, although several users criticized his decision in the comments. "That shows you that you are going against the majority of the Cuban people," wrote one of the internet users.
Empty seats on charter flights to Cuba
The images recall similar situations that have gone viral in recent months, where flights to or from Cuba have departed with very few passengers.
In many cases, users have explained that the business of these flights does not always depend on the number of travelers, but rather on the cargo in the plane's hold.
Shipping agencies often pay to transport packages and unaccompanied luggage, allowing some routes to remain operational even when the number of passengers is low.
"The business is in the belly of the plane," wrote an internet user in comments on similar videos published a year ago on social media.
The decline of travel from the diaspora
However, the current context points to a real reduction in the flow of travelers to Cuba, something that is already reflected in the official figures.
Data published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) indicate that in January 2026, 12,574 Cubans residing abroad arrived on the Island, compared to 21,015 in January 2025.
The drop exceeds 40% in just one year, with the most significant decrease in trips from the United States, which fell from 14,027 to just 6,997 visitors.
This setback directly impacts one of the most stable flows for Cuban tourism: family visits from the diaspora, which also support a significant portion of foreign currency consumption within the country.
The economic crisis is compounded by prolonged power outages, transportation issues, and fuel shortages, factors that have further worsened the conditions for traveling to the Island.
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