The two largest German tourist groups, TUI and Dertour, have removed Cuba from their catalogs for the winter season 2026/27, at a time when options for traveling from Germany to the island have drastically diminished, according to a survey conducted by the specialized magazine fvw|TravelTalk, also reported by the German outlet Kubakunde.
In a review of various booking portals for the period from December 7 to December 20, the publication found only between 16 and 19 Cuban hotels, depending on the platform, and a single tour operator with available offers in that sample: Spica Travel, based in Basel, Switzerland.
The located packages were priced between 4,700 and 5,600 euros for eight days for two adults, in a double room and including flights from Air Europa, with a connection in Madrid.
The amount corresponds to the trip for two people, not the individual price.
The presence of Spica Travel as the sole operator in the portals examined does not mean that all German offerings for traveling to Cuba have disappeared.
The specialized company Aventoura continues to offer tours around the island, although it warns of current difficulties and evaluates each request on an individual basis.
Carmen Windlin, director of Spica Travel, explained to fvw|TravelTalk that the demand for travel to Cuba has decreased significantly, but there is still interest.
The company plans to maintain a selection of trips to the destination.
Fewer flights and more complicated connections to get to Cuba
The reduction in tourist offerings is related to the loss of air connections and the difficulties in fuel supply at Cuban airports.
Germany no longer has regular nonstop flights to Havana, so travelers must rely on connections through other countries.
One of the alternatives is Air Europa, which, according to information gathered by the German press, operates four weekly flights between Madrid and Havana.
However, it is not the only airline that operates direct flights between Spain and Cuba: Air China also maintains the Madrid-Havana route as part of its journey from Beijing.
The flight records for CA865 show operations during November 2026.
The difficulties with fuel are even affecting flights that are still operational.
Air Europa has announced that its flight UX052 from Havana to Madrid needs to make a technical stop for refueling in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, due to a lack of fuel at José Martí airport.
The company will maintain the announced adjustment until November 30, 2026.
Condor has ceased direct flights to Cuba, and Cubana de Aviación has suspended its connection between Frankfurt and Havana for the winter of 2026/27.
For its part, Iberia has extended the suspension of its operations with Havana until June 30, 2027.
Turkish Airlines has not resumed the flights to Cuba that it had planned for October 25. According to information from AeroRoutes collected by Kubakunde, the return of its services to Havana is not expected before the week of March 28, 2027.
Among the alternative routes to travel from Germany is the connection with Air France or KLM via Paris or Amsterdam to Panama City, from where Copa Airlines offers flights to Havana.
Aventoura considers this one of the most reliable options. Another possibility mentioned by the operators is to fly with Condor to Cancun and then continue to Cuba with the Mexican airline Viva.
Travelers considering a stopover in the United States should be aware of immigration restrictions.
U.S. regulations state that those who have been in Cuba since January 12, 2021, with limited exceptions, cannot use the ESTA authorization and need a visa to enter or transit through U.S. territory.
The collapse of Cuban tourism exacerbates the withdrawal of operators
The departure of TUI and Dertour comes at a time when Cuban tourism is experiencing a historic contraction.
According to the data from the National Statistical and Information Office (ONEI) published in October, Cuba received just 477,707 international visitors between January and September 2026, a 65.1% decrease compared to the same period the previous year.
September closed with only 27,354 visitors, the lowest monthly record of the year up to that point.
The decline also affected the Spanish market, which contributed 11,182 visitors in the first nine months, a decrease of 69.6% compared to 2025.
The difficulties in the sector are not limited to flights.
The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, acknowledged in July that 73% of the country's hotel facilities remained closed, while approximately 25,000 workers were without assigned work.
This situation is compounded by the withdrawal of Meliá from the management of its 34 hotels in Cuba, followed by the departure of other international chains, including Iberostar and Barceló.
Blue Diamond Resorts, in which TUI holds a 49% stake, also announced its withdrawal.
The shortage of aviation fuel remains one of the main obstacles to restoring international connections. This is compounded by supply issues and power outages that affect tourism services.
Wilson Cardozo, marketing director of Aventoura, explained to fvw|TravelTalk that Cuba has become a particularly demanding destination, more suited for experienced and well-informed travelers.
The company continues to review its customers' requests, although in certain circumstances it discourages undertaking the trip.
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