SOUTHWEST Airlines has quietly reduced the number of flights it offers to a Caribbean hotspot.
The schedule shakeup comes into force on September 4 – with passengers unable to book seats for certain routes.

Southwest Airlines is to cut its flights to a popular tourist hotspot[/caption]
Flights to Havana are set to be reduced (stock)[/caption]
Southwest currently offers a twice daily round trip service between Tampa and Havana, the capital of Cuba.
But, from September 4, only one return trip is available to customers.
And, the temporary schedule would remain in place until March 2026 if the Department of Transportation approves the request.
Southwest chiefs have cited demand as a factor behind the sudden schedule shake-up.
And they have called on DOT officials to approve the request, saying it is in the public interest.
The carrier, which recently announced an end to its open seating policy, said scaling back flights between Tampa and Havana would help it meet current needs.
Southwest chiefs have not ruled out restoring its twice daily service between Tampa and Havana in the future.
The carrier has stressed that Cuba remains an important market.
Southwest previously canceled routes to Varadero and Santa Clara in 2017.
In the docket seen by The U.S. Sun, the carrier cites other airlines that have proposed, or made changes to its Cuba schedules.
United Airlines is to cancel its Houston to Havana round-trip service from September 2.
“We make regular adjustments to our flight schedule based on seasonality, demand, and other market factors,” a spokesperson for United told The U.S. Sun.
American Airlines chiefs have also filed papers with the Department of Transportation to cut flights to Cuba.
If the request is approved, then a service to Santiago de Cuba would be cut entirely.
American Airlines is planning to reduce services between Miami and Havana, Miami and Holguin, and Miami and Santa Clara.
Executives believe that the changes would allow resources to be allocated more efficiently.
Sources close to Delta have not confirmed any changes to its flight schedules to Cuba.
In 2023, JetBlue chiefs decided to suspend all routes to Cuba.
At the time, bosses said they would restore the service when travel restrictions to the island become more relaxed.
TIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Americans are banned from visiting Cuba for tourism purposes.
However, they can visit Cuba for educational and humanitarian trips.
During his first term, Donald Trump imposed travel restrictions as he worked to reverse arrangements agreed under Barack Obama.
Americans were banned from organizing their own private trips to Cuba.
Those visiting Cuba as part of educational groups had to comply with stricter registration rules.
And, Americans were also banned from doing business with any company owned by the Cuban military or authorities.
Former president Joe Biden relaxed travel restrictions that were imposed by his predecessor.
His administration wanted to make it easier for family travel.
Flights between US and cities outside Havana were authorized, opening up travel links.
Cuba was removed from the state sponsors of terrorism list before Biden left office.
Rick Scott, a Republican senator, described Biden’s move as “reckless and dangerous.”
He warned about the risks such a move could have on US national security.
“Biden’s appeasement is feeding right into the hands of Cuba’s dictators, who fuel terrorism and oppress their people,” he claimed.
Scott described Biden’s action as his “parting gift.”
Even Democrats in Florida slammed Biden for his action.
“I am disappointed at the Biden Administration’s plan to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” Nikki Fried, the chair of the Democratic Party in Florida, said.
Cuba has since been re-added to the list.
In June, Trump signed an executive order reinstating previous sanctions that Biden relaxed.
But, the crackdown means most Cubans are banned from entering the US.
Those who have a green card are not impacted.
Trump’s crackdown toward Cuba has received a mixed response.
Maria Teresa Rodriguez, who moved to the US in 2009, supported the move, claiming the Cuban authorities want to have “total control.”
“I’m gonna quote Marco Rubio on that, they are enemies of humanity,” she told the NBC affiliate WAVE-TV.
“Those governments are enemies of humanity because of all of the things they do against their own people.”

Other airlines such as United are suspending routes to Havana[/caption]
Cuba is on the state sponsor of terrorism list[/caption]