The aviation fuel crisis continues to severely limit Cuba's air connectivity, but the island is not cut off: several airlines are still operating as of October 5, using flights that can complete the journey without refueling at Cuban airports or by making technical stops in third countries.
Among the companies that maintain connections are American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Copa Airlines, Aeroméxico, Viva, Wingo, and Air Europa, as well as other regional operations and charter flights.
The situation, however, varies from one airline to another, and it is important to distinguish between a route that operates directly, a connection that requires a technical stop, and an itinerary that an airline may sell even if some of its segments are operated by another company.
American Airlines continues to operate flights between the United States and Cuba
American Airlines currently maintains its operations to Cuba.
The official page of American Airlines showed available fares for October on routes to Havana and Santiago de Cuba this Monday.
Among them are flights between Miami and Havana and between Miami and Santiago de Cuba, two of the most important connections for the Cuban community living in Florida.
The geographic proximity allows planes to carry enough fuel to undertake certain routes without necessarily relying on refueling in Cuba.
Southwest maintains connections with Havana
Southwest Airlines also has flights available to Havana from the United States.
Their official booking system for Cuba currently displays flights for October, including itineraries from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale to José Martí International Airport.
The company also offers connections from other U.S. cities through its domestic network.
For travelers from South Florida, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale remain two particularly important points of entry to the Cuban capital.
Delta continues to operate, according to the report from October 5
Delta Air Lines is also among the U.S. airlines that continue to reach Cuba despite the shortage of Jet A-1 fuel.
A report by EFE published on October 5 states that American, Southwest, and Delta are maintaining their operations with enough fuel to complete the journey without relying on supply at Cuban airports.
Delta also keeps Havana among its destinations and maintains specific information for passengers traveling to Cuba on its official channels.
Copa keeps Havana connected to Panama
Copa Airlines continues to be one of the main options for connecting Cuba with Latin America and other destinations through its hub in Panama City.
The official Copa portal keeps available flights between Havana and Panama throughout October.
The airline also describes frequent departures from Havana and allows connections from Panama to numerous destinations across the continent.
This route is particularly important for travelers who cannot use a direct connection from their country of residence to Cuba.
Aeroméxico maintains its flights to Havana
Mexico remains one of the primary entry and exit points for Cuba.
Aeroméxico continues to offer flights to Havana throughout October, including schedules from Mexico City.
The company's system showed availability for travel between Mexico City and Havana starting from October 5.
Viva also maintains connections with Cuba
The Mexican airline Viva also maintains its service to Havana.
Their official system shows flights in October from Mexico City and from Felipe Ángeles International Airport to the Cuban capital.
The continuity of these connections, along with Aeroméxico, keeps Mexico as one of the main regional hubs from which it is still possible to travel directly to Cuba.
Wingo continues to connect Havana with Colombia and Panama
Wingo operates flights from Havana to Bogotá and Panama City.
The official airline page displays available fares for the Havana-Bogotá route during October, while its system also maintains connections between Cuba and Panama.
These routes provide an alternative for travelers from Latin America or for those who need to make a connection before continuing to another destination.
Air Europa continues to fly, but makes a stop to refuel
The situation of Air Europa is particularly illustrative of how airlines have adapted their operations to the crisis.
The Spanish company officially confirms that it maintains its operations with Havana.
However, due to the lack of fuel at José Martí International Airport, flight UX 052 Havana-Madrid is making a technical stop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to refuel.
Air Europa indicates that this procedure will continue, in principle, until October 15, 2026 inclusive.
The stopover does not make Punta Cana the passenger's destination; it is a technical layover meant for refueling before continuing on to Madrid.
Iberia remains suspended until 2027
The situation is very different for Iberia.
The Spanish airline has officially suspended its route to Havana for the period between June 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
The information published by Iberia provides affected passengers with alternatives such as changing dates or using other airports, including Miami, Mexico City, Panama City, and Santo Domingo.
Therefore, although Iberia's system may display certain commercial routes to Cuba, this should not be interpreted as the reinstatement of its direct Madrid-Havana flight during the suspension period.
Air Canada has not yet resumed its flights to Cuba either
Air Canada remains out of the Cuban market after suspending its operations to the island due to the fuel crisis.
In its latest official update on Cuba, the company indicated that it was postponing the resumption of its services until further notice.
The suspension began in February when Air Canada announced that it would temporarily cease flights to Cuba due to a lack of aviation fuel.
The company even sent planes with additional fuel and organized flights to evacuate passengers who were already on the island.
Air France and Turkish are also not part of regular operations
The report published on October 5 by EFE also includes Air France and Turkish Airlines among the major companies that suspended their flights to Cuba amid the crisis.
In the case of Turkish, itineraries featuring Havana may appear in sales systems, but that does not necessarily mean there is currently a direct flight between Cuba and Istanbul, as some routes may involve connections operated by other companies.
Why can some airlines continue while others cannot?
The difference largely lies in the distance.
For a relatively short flight from Florida, Mexico, Panama, or another nearby point in the Caribbean, it is more viable to load enough fuel at the origin airport to fly to Cuba and return without needing to refuel on the island.
In aviation, this practice is known as additional fuel transport or tankering.
On long-distance routes from Europe or Canada, that solution can become much more complex due to the additional weight, fuel consumption, and operational limitations.
Another alternative is the one used by Air Europa: to make a technical stop in a third country to refuel before completing the flight.
The latest NOTAMs have expired, but that doesn't prove that the fuel has returned
There is also an element that can cause confusion among travelers.
The series A3054-A3063/26 affected, among others, Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, and Cayo Coco.
However, the fact that an aeronautical notice reaches its expiration date does not, by itself, demonstrate that the supply has normalized.
So far, no general announcement has been made by the Cuban aviation authorities confirming the stable restoration of Jet A-1 in the ten affected terminals.
The official NOTAM system of the Cuban Air Navigation Company (ECNA) remains the operational reference for checking current aviation restrictions.
What should someone with a flight to Cuba do?
The availability of flights does not mean that the entire schedule will remain unchanged.
The fuel crisis has forced companies to adjust schedules, suspend services, and change refueling procedures for months.
Therefore, anyone planning to travel should check the status of their flight directly with the airline before heading to the airport, especially if the journey includes connections or a departure from Cuba.
It is also advisable to check if there is a technical stop that was not originally included in the itinerary and to verify the baggage conditions, as these may vary depending on the airline and the route.
The conclusion, for now, is clear: Cuba maintains international air connections, but with a much-reduced network and subject to extraordinary operational adjustments due to the ongoing fuel crisis.
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