Turkish Airlines Sets New Date for Return to Cuba

Turkish Airlines has announced a fresh date for resuming its flights to Havana, now projected for the week of March 28, 2027. This update was revealed by AeroRoutes, shifting the previous expectation from October 25, 2026, which means Cuba will remain without direct service from the Turkish carrier for at least five more months.

Approximately two weeks ago, Turkish Airlines canceled tickets for the second time that were previously available for October. In mid-August, the airline had offered tickets for the Moscow–Istanbul–Havana route, scheduled to start from October 27, pricing economy class fares at around 137,565 rubles (approximately $1,650), with three weekly flights operated by Boeing 787-9. By the end of August, these tickets were abruptly removed from their reservation system.

"Flights to Havana, scheduled from October 25, have been canceled," a Turkish Airlines spokesperson confirmed at that time.

Impact on Cuban Tourism

The new schedule aligns the Havana route with the beginning of the 2027 northern hemisphere summer season. The good news is that Havana has not been permanently removed from Turkish Airlines’ destinations. Although the airline has permanently eliminated 11 routes from its network, Cuba is not on that list.

The last Turkish Airlines flight to Havana took place on March 29, when the airline halted the route citing a shortage of Jet A-1 fuel and declining tourist demand. Since then, the company has only maintained a connection to the island via a layover in Panama, where passengers must transfer to Copa Airlines flights.

If this new schedule holds, Turkish Airlines will have suspended direct flights to Cuba for exactly one year when the route resumes in March 2027.

The Persistent Aviation Fuel Crisis

The root of the issue lies in the ongoing aviation fuel crisis at Cuban airports. The Cuban Air Navigation Company (ECNA) continues to issue aeronautical notices declaring the unavailability of Jet A-1 kerosene at ten international airports, including Havana, Varadero, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba, at least until October 1, 2026.

Turkish Airlines isn't alone in facing these challenges. At least 11 international airlines have suspended or reduced operations to Cuba this year, including Air France, Iberia, Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, LATAM Peru, Magnicharters, Sunwing, Rossiya, Nordwind, and Turkish itself.

The impact on Cuban tourism has been significant. From January to August 2026, Cuba welcomed just 450,353 international visitors, marking a 64% decline compared to the same period in 2025, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). The Russian market, a main beneficiary of the Moscow–Istanbul–Havana route, saw a 66.8% drop in the first half of the year.