CubaFlightBooking

US Routes

The United States remains the most resilient international market for Cuba travel. Short flight times from South Florida allow airlines to complete a round trip without needing to refuel in Cuba — a challenge that has grounded many Canadian and European carriers.

Schedules change fast

Cuba's air connectivity has been unusually volatile in 2026 due to an ongoing fuel shortage. Treat all routes and schedules on this site as a helpful guide, not a guarantee — always confirm directly with the airline before finalizing travel plans.

Status legend:OperatingReducedSuspendedSeasonal Pause

  • American Airlines

    Operating
    Route(s)
    Miami ⇄ Havana, Santa Clara (SNU), Holguín (HOG)
    Frequency
    Up to ~10x daily on Miami–Havana at peak

    The largest U.S. operator to Cuba. Some flights were temporarily paused under a 2026 government waiver, then restored.

  • Delta Air Lines

    Operating
    Route(s)
    Miami ⇄ Havana
    Frequency
    1x daily, round trip

    Short enough to avoid fuel supply issues — service has run consistently through the 2026 fuel shortage.

  • Southwest Airlines

    Operating
    Route(s)
    Tampa ⇄ Havana
    Frequency
    1x daily

    Carries extra fuel for the return leg due to limited fuel availability in Cuba.

  • JetBlue

    Seasonal Pause
    Route(s)
    Historically Fort Lauderdale ⇄ Havana
    Frequency
    Varies seasonally

    Included in 2026 waiver-related pauses. Service resumes and pauses seasonally — check before booking.

  • United Airlines

    Suspended
    Route(s)
    Houston ⇄ Havana
    Frequency
    Not currently operating

    See details below.

Carrier-by-carrier breakdown

Each U.S. carrier is handling the 2026 fuel shortage differently. Here is what that means in practice for the routes they still fly.

American Airlines — Miami (MIA) ⇄ Havana (HAV), Santa Clara (SNU), Holguín (HOG)

American is by far the largest U.S. operator to Cuba, running as many as ten Miami–Havana round trips a day at peak periods and the only remaining scheduled U.S. service to Santa Clara and Holguín. Its Miami hub is close enough to Cuba that aircraft can carry round-trip fuel from Florida, so the airline has not had to cancel routes outright over the fuel supply. Some Havana, Varadero, Holguín and Camagüey frequencies were paused during the summer of 2026 under a regulatory waiver, then restored. American passengers use a dedicated Cuba check-in area at Miami International near security checkpoints 1 and 2, and should still allow three hours before departure because online check-in is unavailable on Cuba routes.

Delta Air Lines — Miami (MIA) ⇄ Havana (HAV)

Delta runs one daily round trip between Miami and Havana. The route is short enough — roughly 236 miles, a little over an hour in the air — that the aircraft never depends on Cuban jet fuel, which is why the service has run consistently through the entire 2026 shortage while longer-haul carriers cut back. Delta was included in the 2026 waiver that allowed temporary summer pauses, but its Miami–Havana flight has remained the airline's stable core Cuba service. With only one departure a day, seats sell out well ahead of holiday periods and there is no same-day rebooking cushion if you miss the flight.

Southwest Airlines — Tampa (TPA) ⇄ Havana (HAV)

Southwest operates one daily Tampa–Havana round trip, currently the only scheduled U.S.–Cuba service outside South Florida. The aircraft carries extra fuel out of Tampa to cover the return leg, since fuel cannot be reliably uplifted in Cuba; on some days that means a weight restriction on cargo or checked bags rather than a cancellation. At roughly 345 miles the flight takes about an hour and a half. For travelers on Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa avoids the drive to Miami entirely, but the single daily frequency leaves no backup flight if there is a disruption.

JetBlue — Fort Lauderdale (FLL) ⇄ Havana (HAV)

JetBlue historically served Havana from Fort Lauderdale and was once the largest U.S. carrier to Cuba by seat count. The route now runs on a seasonal, on-and-off basis: it was among the services included in the 2026 waiver pauses, and JetBlue has restored and re-suspended it depending on demand and fuel conditions. Treat any JetBlue Cuba itinerary as provisional and reconfirm directly with the airline before booking connecting travel or non-refundable accommodation. When it is not flying, Fort Lauderdale travelers can reach Havana from Miami, about a 30-minute drive south.

Spotlight: United Airlines — Houston (IAH) ⇄ Havana (HAV)

This route was historically the only scheduled U.S.–Cuba service outside Florida, operating daily. It was suspended in September 2025 due to lower seasonal demand and shifting travel policy. United had targeted a resumption by summer 2026, but that has not happened, likely compounded by the 2026 fuel shortage. A possible return in 2027 has been mentioned in the airline's public statements, but this is not confirmed — travelers should check directly with United for the latest. In the meantime, Houston-area travelers should route through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa.

Flight Time & Distance

  • Route
    Miami ⇄ Havana
    Distance
    236 mi
    Estimated Flight Time
    ~1h05–1h20m
  • Route
    Miami ⇄ Santa Clara
    Distance
    229 mi
    Estimated Flight Time
    ~1h05–1h15m
  • Route
    Miami ⇄ Holguín
    Distance
    428 mi
    Estimated Flight Time
    ~1h30–1h45m
  • Route
    Tampa ⇄ Havana
    Distance
    345 mi
    Estimated Flight Time
    ~1h20–1h35m
  • Route
    Fort Lauderdale ⇄ Havana
    Distance
    256 mi
    Estimated Flight Time
    ~1h10–1h25m

Note: Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale flights to Cuba are among the shortest international flights available from the continental U.S. — often shorter than many domestic U.S. routes.

Information last reviewed: August 26, 2026. Airline schedules can change quickly — please verify current status with the airline before booking.