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Cubana de Aviación S.A. published an informative note this Monday announcing an increase in frequencies on three domestic routes during July and August 2026, marking a partial recovery of its domestic operations after months of severe restrictions.
According to the official statement from the airline, the routes benefiting are Havana-Gerona-Havana, Havana-Santiago de Cuba-Havana, and Havana-Holguín-Havana, each with specific days and times for the summer season.
The route to Nueva Gerona, on the Isle of Youth, will operate on Fridays during July, departing from Havana at 10:45 AM and arriving at 11:15 AM; the return flight leaves at 12:15 PM and arrives in the capital at 12:45 PM. In August, this same route will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the same schedule.
Flights to Santiago de Cuba will operate on Saturdays: departure from Havana at 7:30 AM, arrival at 9:30 AM, and return at 10:30 AM with arrival in the capital at 12:30 PM.
The route to Holguín will operate on Sundays, departing at 7:30 AM from Havana, arriving at 9:20 AM, and returning on a flight at 10:20 AM with an arrival at 12:10 PM.
Ticket prices are governed by Resolution 346/2020 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices. The current rates are: 300 Cuban pesos (CUP) for a one-way trip to Gerona, 1,100 CUP to Santiago de Cuba, and 935 CUP to Holguín.
The airline indicated that tickets can be purchased on its official website or at sales offices, with payment available in cash or via transfer. Additionally, it warned that "it is not responsible for tickets obtained through third parties."
The announcement comes in the context of a profound operational crisis. Since January 2025, Cubana de Aviación operates with barely two active airplanes —both of the ATR 72-500 model— out of a nominal fleet of between 12 and 17 aircraft, most of which are inactive due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance issues.
In November 2025, the airline eliminated flights to Camagüey and Nueva Gerona, leaving the national operation reduced to just six flights per week. The route to Nueva Gerona was reinstated in February 2026, and on July 7, the airline operated an additional flight to that destination, although in-person reservations were mandatory at Terminal 1 of José Martí Airport due to the collapse of the National Electroenergetic System.
The crisis worsened in February 2026 when the regime informed international airlines about the shortage of Jet A-1 fuel, according to a report by Infobae. In light of this situation, in April 2026, Cuba authorized the Canadian airline Flair Airlines to operate flights to the country.
Destinations such as Las Tunas, Moa, Guantánamo, Manzanillo, and Baracoa remain without any regular air service from Cubana, highlighting that the increase in frequencies announced for the summer covers only a fraction of the domestic air connectivity that the country requires.
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