US travelers are facing sudden flight cancelations to popular destinations starting this September.
Passengers trying to book certain routes on or after September 2 are being met with blacked-out dates on airlines’ websites.
Southwest is reducing its Tampa-Havana service from two daily round-trips to one[/caption]
United is canceling all Houston-Havana flights from September 2 until at least summer 2026 (stock image)[/caption]
The disruptions will affect flights to Havana, Cuba, with United Airlines halting all Houston to Havana services until at least summer 2026.
The suspension covers the entire winter 2025-26 season, according to documents seen by The U.S. Sun.
United confirmed the move is part of routine schedule adjustments driven by seasonality, demand, and market factors.
Southwest Airlines is also scaling back services to the Caribbean.
From September 4, its Tampa to Havana route will drop from two round-trips daily to just one.
The temporary reduction is expected to last until March 2026, pending Department of Transportation approval.
Southwest said the move would allow resources to better match current passenger demand.
The airline stressed that Cuba remains an important market and did not rule out restoring the twice-daily service in the future.
American Airlines is planning cuts as well, filing with the DOT to remove flights to Santiago de Cuba and reduce services from Miami to Havana, Holguin, and Santa Clara.
Delta has not confirmed any changes, while JetBlue suspended all Cuba routes in 2023, promising to resume flights when restrictions ease.
Travel to Cuba remains tightly restricted for US tourists.
Tourism is banned, though educational and humanitarian trips are allowed.
Americans must have a valid passport for six months after arrival and a tourist visa.
US credit and debit cards do not work on the island, and travelers must use Cuban pesos.
State Department advice when traveling to Cuba
The State Department has issued a series of rules Americans should follow when traveling to Cuba.
- Americans must have a tourist visa, but travel for tourism is banned.
- Travelers are urged to exercise caution because of the risk of petty crime like pick-pocketing.
- Americans should not flash signs of wealth like watches or expensive jewelry
- They should have power banks on standby just in case there is a blackout
- Americans should be aware of their surroundings
- Travelers should exchange US dollars for Cuban Pesos at a licensed bank or airport.
- Travelers who are carrying more than $5,000 must declare this with the Cuban authorities.
- Americans are urged to exchange local currency into US dollars before leaving the island.
Amounts over $5,000 must be declared to authorities.
The restrictions follow President Donald Trump reinstating Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Trump previously banned US carriers from eight airports outside Havana and capped charter flights.
Former president Joe Biden briefly lifted some restrictions in 2022, removing Cuba from the terrorism list, before Trump’s administration reimposed it.
Republican lawmakers, including Senator Rick Scott, have called for tighter travel rules, calling Biden’s move “reckless and dangerous.”
Even Florida Democrats criticized the relaxation of restrictions.
Maria Teresa Rodriguez, a Cuban immigrant, supported the crackdown, saying the Cuban government seeks “total control.”
The combined effect of airline cuts and government restrictions has left Americans with limited options for Caribbean travel.
Travelers planning trips this fall should check schedules carefully and plan for alternative destinations.
Southwest previously cut routes to Varadero and Santa Clara in 2017, citing similar demand concerns.
Travel to Cuba remains tightly restricted for US tourists (stock image)[/caption]
