In an unusual occurrence last week, a flight departing from Cuba to the United States had only six passengers aboard, essentially giving them the entire aircraft to themselves. This extraordinary situation unfolded last Saturday and was shared on TikTok by Christian, one of these six travelers, who was bewildered by the empty plane and admitted he had no idea why it was so.
A TikTok user identified as Cubanito 2025 commented, "The profit is in the plane's belly," referring to the cargo hold. Many Cubans speculate that it was a charter flight filled with packages sent by agencies to the Island for business purposes, rather than passengers.
One commenter noted, "Charters are loaded with courier packages, regular airlines are full, don't be fooled." Another added, "Six people, 200 suitcases." A third pointed out, "Cargo holds are packed with luggage and no passengers; these are cargo planes without a permit." Another user remarked, "Agencies purchase tickets to send luggage," while yet another said, "They didn't account for the 6 people and the belly of the plane full of agency baggage."
This practice is not new, according to several testimonials. A Cuban recounted traveling with American Airlines a week ago and noticed the plane was half-empty both ways. Other stories emerged, such as, "I traveled three months ago, there were 18 of us, and 16 returned; the luggage was packed to capacity," and "My dad recently came back from Cuba and said, 'Honey, there's nothing here, I think it's just me and the pilot on the plane.'" Similar accounts continued with, "My aunt left today with just 6 passengers, probably a charter flight," "Two weeks ago, a friend flew with only 7 others," and "My mom flew on the 15th with fewer than 10 passengers, just agency bags."
A woman complained that even with empty planes, passengers are left behind. "It happened to me," she lamented. These incidents occur as several American airlines have suspended or reduced flights to Cuba due to declining demand and operational challenges.
In 2023, both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines announced cutbacks on flights to Havana, citing decreased demand. In August of that year, JetBlue declared it would halt all its flights to the Island starting in September.
Understanding the Flight Dynamics Between the U.S. and Cuba
Why are flights from the U.S. to Cuba flying with so few passengers?
Flights often carry fewer passengers due to a combination of factors including decreased demand and logistical challenges. Additionally, these flights are sometimes used to transport packages for businesses, which fill the cargo hold instead.
How do agencies utilize flights to Cuba for cargo?
Agencies often buy tickets to send packages and goods to the Island, using the cargo space of flights to transport items for commercial purposes, sometimes filling the plane's hold completely.
Which airlines have reduced or canceled flights to Cuba?
In 2023, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines reduced their flights to Havana due to a drop in demand. JetBlue also announced it would suspend all flights to Cuba starting in September of the same year.