Spanish airline Iberia to cancel flights to Cuba due to weak demand

Spain’s largest airline Iberia will suspend direct flights to Cuba from June until at least November, local media reported on Monday.

“The situation that the country has been facing in recent months has greatly impacted demand,” a spokesperson told Spanish daily El Pais.

Cuba has been coping with widespread power outages and food shortages since the US imposed an energy blockade on the country in January.

Other North American and European airlines have also cancelled or reduced flights to Cuba due to a shortage of jet fuel at international airports.

Iberia has been making technical stops in Santo Domingo to refuel on return flights to Madrid.

The airline will operate three weekly flights between Madrid and Havana in April, reducing the schedule to two in May before halting operations in June.

During the suspension, passengers will still be able to travel to Cuba via Panama under a codeshare agreement with Copa Airlines.

In 2024, Canada was the top source of visitors to Cuba, followed by Russia, the US, Germany, Spain, and Mexico.