A Cuban-American posted a video on TikTok last Wednesday showing a completely full flight heading to Cuba, challenging the fearmongering narrative that is circulating on social media about traveling to the island amid the current crisis.
The user @mili68652 (MilenisAshly&Astrid) recorded the interior of the aircraft filled with passengers and wrote in the description: "Don't create more fear, a full flight to Cuba; they were offering money to stay for the next flight, guaranteeing hotel accommodation with everything included for the wait."
The video went viral with over 152,000 views, 1,327 likes, 154 comments, and shared 314 times in just a few days.
The scene described—an airline offering financial compensation and hotel accommodations to those who give up their seat—corresponds to the standard practice of compensation for overselling, regulated in the United States by the Department of Transportation with compensation of up to 1,550 dollars per passenger.
The video strikingly contrasts with the overall state of tourism in Cuba, which is experiencing its worst moment in years.
According to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), in January 2026, Cuba welcomed 184,833 tourists, a 9% decrease compared to the same month in 2025, the worst January in 13 years.
The arrival of Cubans residing abroad fell by more than 40% during that same period: 12,574 arrivals compared to 21,015 in January 2025.
Since February, over 1,700 flights to Cuba have been canceled due to a critical shortage of Jet A1 fuel, worsened by the interruption of Venezuelan crude oil supplies following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.
Air Canada, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Air Transat, and WestJet have suspended or drastically reduced their operations to the island.
Cuban authorities have issued an international notice regarding the lack of Jet A1 fuel at all their airports, extended until April 10, 2026.
The contrast with the viral video is striking: just three weeks earlier, the Cuban influencer Yusmani Companioni documented a charter flight from Miami to Santa Clara with barely a dozen passengers and warned, "At any moment, they might suspend flights to Cuba due to a lack of passengers and luggage."
The debate over whether to travel to Cuba in 2026 is intense on social media, especially among the Cuban diaspora in the United States, where experiences vary dramatically depending on the route and timing.
Several governments have issued formal travel alerts: United States classified Cuba at Level 2 (exercise increased caution) on March 26; Poland issued a highest-level alert last Sunday urging travelers to avoid any trips; Ireland, Canada, and Switzerland also updated their warnings due to widespread blackouts, shortages of basic services, and the risk of arbitrary detentions.
The Cuban notice regarding the shortage of Jet A1 fuel at all its airports remains in effect until April 10, 2026, a date that will determine whether the operational situation for aviation to the island improves or continues.
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