Which U.S. Airlines Fly to Cuba in 2026 — And What to Expect

If you're planning a trip to Cuba from the United States, the good news is that flying there is legal and straightforward when you plan ahead. As of 2026, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines all operate scheduled flights from South Florida directly to Havana.

What has changed over the past few years isn't whether you can fly — it's how concentrated the map has become. Nearly every remaining U.S.–Cuba flight now departs from Miami or Tampa, and almost all of them land at José Martí International (HAV). Routes that once ran from New York, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Orlando have been trimmed away one by one, leaving a smaller but noticeably more stable core network. For most travelers, that means the planning question is less "which airline flies from my city?" and more "how do I get myself to South Florida the day before?"

Where you can fly from

Miami is the busiest gateway, with American Airlines offering the most extensive schedule — up to around 10 flights a day at peak times — plus additional routes to Santa Clara and Holguín. Delta flies once daily from Miami, and Southwest flies once daily from Tampa. Flight times are short: most Miami–Havana flights take a little over an hour, making it one of the shortest international routes you can fly from the continental U.S.

• American Airlines (Miami). The backbone of the U.S.–Cuba market. Multiple daily Havana departures spread across the day, plus the only remaining U.S. scheduled service to Santa Clara (SNU) and Holguín (HOG). If your dates are inflexible, American's frequency gives you the most rebooking options when something goes wrong.
• Delta Air Lines (Miami). A single daily Havana rotation. Reliable, but with one flight a day there is no same-day backup on Delta metal — a cancellation typically means a next-day departure rather than a later one.
• Southwest Airlines (Tampa). One daily Tampa–Havana flight. Useful if you're coming from the Midwest or the western U.S., where Tampa connections are often cheaper and less congested than Miami. Southwest's two free checked bags also matter more than usual on this route, since many travelers bring supplies and gifts.
• JetBlue and United. Both have exited scheduled Cuba service. United's Houston–Havana route was suspended in 2025 and has been discussed as a possible 2027 return, but nothing is bookable today. Don't build a trip around either carrier resuming.

One practical consequence of a Florida-only map: build in a buffer. If you're connecting from another U.S. city on the same day and your first flight is delayed, you may not have a second option to Havana until tomorrow. Travelers who arrive in Miami or Tampa the night before consistently have the smoothest departure day.

What to expect at check-in

A few things are different about flying to Cuba compared to most U.S. domestic or international trips:

• No online check-in. You'll need to check in at the airport, so plan to arrive at least 3 hours before your flight. Agents have to physically verify your travel category, eVisa, and passport before they can issue a boarding pass, and that check can't be automated in the app.
• A dedicated check-in area. Miami International Airport has a specific check-in area for Cuba-bound American Airlines flights, located near security checkpoints 1 and 2. It is separate from the main American counters, so allow extra time to find it — and don't queue in the standard line first.
• Documents to have ready. Every traveler needs a valid travel authorization category (more on this below), an eVisa (unless you were born in Cuba), and a completed D'Viajeros form before departure. Keep the D'Viajeros QR code saved offline on your phone and printed as a backup; Havana arrivals hall connectivity is unreliable.
• Baggage and cash. Checked-bag limits and overweight fees are enforced strictly on Cuba routes, and Cuba operates largely on cash for travelers. U.S.-issued cards generally do not work on the island, so plan to carry enough currency for the entire trip.
• Mandatory health coverage. Cuba requires travel medical insurance. On most U.S. carriers this is bundled into the fare, but confirm it at booking rather than at the airport.

What you'll need before you go

U.S. law requires every traveler to Cuba to qualify under one of several authorized travel categories — this is a simple self-certification, not an application. You'll also need a Cuba eVisa and a D'Viajeros form, both of which can typically be arranged in advance.

Order matters. Settle your travel category first, because it shapes how you plan the trip itself — the widely used "Support for the Cuban People" category expects privately owned lodging, privately owned restaurants, and time spent with independent Cuban businesses. Next comes the eVisa, which is a real document tied to your passport. The D'Viajeros form is last: it asks for your eVisa number and is meant to be completed shortly before departure, not weeks ahead.

Keep records. You should retain your itinerary and a basic log of trip activities for five years under U.S. rules. Nobody collects this at the airport, but it's your documentation if it's ever requested later.

Planning your trip?

Our team can help you compare current U.S. routes and confirm the most reliable option for your travel dates.

That means checking which departures are actually operating in your window, flagging routes that have been thinned out recently, and making sure your documents are sequenced correctly so nothing stalls at the counter on departure day.