United Airlines has declared its plan to temporarily suspend its only direct service to Cuba starting September 2, citing a persistent decline in demand, seasonal fluctuations, and increasingly restrictive political conditions for travel between the United States and the island. The airline has informed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that it will cease its operations between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and José Martí International Airport in Havana.
Currently, United operates this route daily using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. It stands as the sole U.S. airline connecting Cuba with a destination outside the state of Florida. Aviation Week reports that United intends to leverage seasonal flexibility granted by the DOT to halt the route until the end of winter 2025-2026, while requesting a formal waiver to retain the right to resume service by the summer of 2026.
The airline emphasized that passenger traffic on this route is "highly seasonal," with sharp declines outside peak periods making daily operations financially unsustainable. This suspension also occurs amidst escalating tensions in immigration and travel policies between the two nations. In June, President Donald Trump introduced new visa restrictions for Cuban citizens, citing national security concerns.
The presidential declaration partially bars Cubans from entering under the most common visa categories (B-1, B-2, F, M, and J) and directs consular officers to limit the validity of any other non-immigrant visas as permitted by law. The tightening of these immigration policies, coupled with the formal prohibition on tourism for U.S. citizens, has resulted in a significant drop in demand for flights to the island.
While travel is still permitted under 12 approved categories—such as family visits, educational activities, or humanitarian work—the regulatory environment has created uncertainty for airlines. Data from OAG Schedules Analyzer shows that American Airlines currently leads the market with 83 weekly flights to six Cuban cities from Miami, accounting for 68.4% of the traffic between the U.S. and Cuba. Southwest and Delta follow with 12.8% and 11.8%, respectively, while United accounted for just 7% with its lone flight from Houston to Havana.
Despite this suspension, United will maintain a weekly charter operation between Jacksonville and the Guantanamo Bay military base using Boeing 737-9 aircraft, according to OAG data. However, its exit from scheduled commercial service to Cuba marks yet another reduction in U.S. routes to the island.
This scenario is not without precedent. In 2023, the company scaled back operations due to low demand. Earlier in June, American Airlines also requested to temporarily suspend its direct flight between Miami and Santiago de Cuba—a route launched in 2019—citing "persistent challenges in demand recovery." If approved, Santiago de Cuba would lose direct connectivity with the U.S. through this airline.
According to Cirium, an analytics firm, over 12,800 flights have been scheduled between Cuba and the United States this year, offering more than two million seats, especially during the peaks in March and December. However, current conditions, characterized by restrictive policies and declining demand, could dramatically alter this landscape in the upcoming months.
With the potential suspension of the Houston-Havana route and mounting pressure on other connections, the viability of flights between the U.S. and Cuba appears increasingly uncertain. For many Cubans, both on and off the island, these decisions not only disrupt travel plans but directly impact their chances for family reunification and mobility in an already complex context.
In this challenging environment, unusual occurrences have also taken place. In February, a flight between Cuba and the United States traveled with just six passengers on board, a situation that sparked widespread discussion on social media. Although the aircraft was nearly empty, testimonies revealed that the cargo holds were packed with luggage and packages managed by private agencies. Many users claim these operations function more like cargo flights, with agencies purchasing tickets solely for luggage transport. "Six people, 200 suitcases," one user remarked. "Agencies buy the tickets to send the luggage," wrote another. Some travelers have reported being denied boarding due to alleged lack of space, despite the aircraft being almost empty.
Impact of United Airlines' Route Suspension to Cuba
Why is United Airlines suspending its route to Cuba?
United Airlines is suspending its route to Cuba due to a sustained decline in demand, seasonal fluctuations, and increasingly restrictive political conditions for travel between the U.S. and Cuba.
When will United Airlines potentially resume its service to Cuba?
United Airlines has requested a waiver to potentially resume its service to Cuba by the summer of 2026, leveraging the seasonal flexibility granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
How do recent U.S. immigration policies affect travel to Cuba?
Recent U.S. immigration policies, including new visa restrictions for Cuban citizens, have further reduced demand for flights to Cuba by creating uncertainty and limiting entry under common visa categories.