United Airlines is pausing service to Cuba, citing lower seasonal demand thanks to new travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration.
United Airlines To Suspend Houston–Havana Route As Travel Restrictions Bite
Currently, United Airlines is the only US carrier that serves Cuba on a route outside of Florida. It flies daily from Houston (IAH) to Havana (HAV) using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. But on September 2, 2025, United plans to suspend service to Havana’s José Martí International Airport. A memo to reservation agents reads:
Effective September 2, 2025, United will no longer operate to/from Havana, Cuba (HAV). The last flights scheduled to operate are IAH-HAV (UA1506) and HAV-IAH (UA1507) on September 1, 2025.
Per its Department of Transportation (DOT) filing (.pdf), United plans to resume service next summer:
United intends that the suspension will remain in effect for the remainder of the Summer 2025 and the entire Winter 2025/2026 traffic seasons, with service resuming no later than the start of the Summer 2026 season.
United asserts that the DOT’s previous grant of seasonal flexibility allows this route suspension, but in case it does not, it asks for additional flexibility for the following reasons:
- Demand on the IAH–HAV route is “highly seasonal, with pronounced shoulder‐season troughs that do not support daily service”
- United has not objected to similar waivers for carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways
United says, “Granting this waiver will preserve United’s ability to restore competitive, nonstop Houston-Havana service once market conditions warrant, in line with the Department’s public-interest mandate.”
This move comes as the Trump Administration cracks down on the Cuban regime by warning that Americans who travel to Cuba for tourism face punitive fines and by adding heightened restrictions for travelers from Cuba wishing to visit America.
> Read More: Trump Administration Cracks Down On Cuba Travel With $250,000 Fines For Tourists
> Read More: Trump Announces New Travel Ban Targeting 19 Nations (Full List)
After September, United will continue to operate a weekly charter flight between Jacksonville, Florida (JAX) and Guantanamo Bay (NBW), using a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
CONCLUSION
With a chilling warning against tourism to Cuba and new restrictions on travel from the island nation, coupled with routine seasonal drops in demand, it is no surprise that United is suspending its Havana service. While United intends to resume service next summer, the new restrictions showcase what a difficult aviation market Cuba is and how government restrictions can immediately depress demand to unsustainable levels.
@ Matthew — Anything to get the upcoming B6 merger approved! Contrary to what Lil Tim thinks, as long as Kirby kisses up to the current admninstration, United will get the go ahead to do a full-scale takeover. Make United Great Again!
Little Dick Geno insulted another poster.
These asshats start it and then cry when they get it back.
No wonder his wife is F’ing her personal trainer while he’s on his “business” trips.
What? You are clearly clueless.
I’m sure the Queen would agree.
Rumor has it, United is thinking reinstating the chairman’s flight, but they are offering trump the new route from DCA-EIS(Epstein Island)
How about a one-way, one-time service from IAD-HLE? Trump could be exiled there, like Napoleon, after Maxwell spills the beans. Both small men where it counted.
Lol Maxwell will either be given a deal whereby she is pardoned for her silence or mysteriously falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Or both.
@ Aaron — My money is on Falls from Window…
I do find it funny you are bashing Trump for something you don’t know if is true while constantly promoting a land where kids are openly sold for sex. And an area that actively promotes sex tourism with minors while the government turns a blind eye.
But, I know, the area is “beautiful” and people have “business” interests there.
C’mon man! Trump and epstein were clearly good friends. 20 years ago trump went on Howard Stern and was bragging about not having a lower age limit when it comes to women. He had bondi lie that there was no such thing as the epstein files. Now hes flailing trying to distract from the topic. His former personal lawyer, now DOJ #2 is meeting with maxwell in prison. Helen Keller could see what is going on here.
And before you say bill Clinton or whatever democrat… send them away too
+1
Send Clinton and Trump to the same island!
@Dave: you speak about what you know not. Such a disingenuous take on Thailand. Sex trafficking is a problem in nearly every country, including ours. There is more to Thailand…so much more…than underage brothels. You should go there and see and until you do, stop repeating your lies.
@ Matthew — Dave probably hangs out at Thai brothels. He sounds like the type.
Why do Republicans support the US banning its citizens from traveling to a country? Isn’t that the opposite of freedom and small government?
Because they are hypocritcal moronic crooks?
Yeah, I’m sure Cubans are the real threat to the US. That and all the other legit travelers getting hit with $250 visas coming this way, and paying more to enter any of our national parks. Let’s just get the whole world to hate us more.
Isn’t Rubio Cuban-American? Figures he’d support screwing over his native friends, too.
One does not pay “more” than $ 250. to enter our national parks .
He said you will have to pay $250 for the visa plus addional money to enter the parks. He never said you have to pay more than $250 to enter a park.
My understanding of the reason is because the current Cuban government seized a significant amount of US property and land holdings without compensation. It also continues to act against US interests.
Similarly, Israel seized the land of some individual Arab homeowners in 1948 without compensation. Gaza is still fighting since then. In contrast, the US has been opposed to Cuba only since 1959.
Cuba is not America’s friend.
I might note that Cuba is not treated on the same level as North Korea, where the US does not consider passports valid in the PDRK (North Korea). So Cuba is treated better.
If I were running United, I wouldn’t fly from Houston to Havana. Seems like a money loser.
Many years ago, Miami was a minor United focus city. It flew from Miami to London and other cities. If it still existed as a focus city, MIA-HAV 3 times a week might be viable.
No sensible pilot will fly 3x a week MIA-HAV-MIA . That would be a “Havana Syndrome” risk .
I traveled to Cuba at least 20 times in a non-profit role directly helping the Cuban people. We stopped services to Cuba in 2016 when we had our first two team members start reporting Havana Syndrome symptoms. We were nowhere near any covert spy technology, and to this day the cause is not known, but if you ask those two team members, they and their doctors have no doubt it was something intentional and unexplainable.
Of all of our team who have been there, spanning political opinions and backgrounds, all who were there trying to do good, it’s pretty universal to us that a total embargo is the only way to deal with Cuba. Ultimately they suffer no more or less without tourism because the regime owns all of the significant businesses and overtaxes wages so severely that it makes no significant difference to them. Small cash operations (tips, taxis, etc.) are generally illegal for them to keep without reporting and surrendering. Tourism largely just gives the government more foreign currency.
The one thing I wish Trump would figure out a way to do is a more expedient and accessible immediate family visa program for them to be able to see their family in the US. Without an embassy in Cuba to process this, they have to go to a third country which is essentially impossible financially unless they have wealthy family in the US or another country to assist.
The best way to depose the Cuban government would be to lift all sanctions, which do little to punish the leadership anyway.
How does lifting of sanctions depose the government? The UK government has not had US sanctions for over 2 centuries but is in no danger of being deposed.
You may agree or disagree on sanctions but lifting them will not depose the government.
Dear oh dear. The paranoia of the regime of Criminal Trump is stopping US citizens from taking holidays in a very nice destination. Is that so there’s pent up demand for his new resort in Gaza?
I’m sure if POTUS had his way in 2008 to build a couple hotels and a golf resort in Cuba , he would be leading the Conga line for visitation right now. However Cuba and the US both didn’t want him there.
Matthew, I wanted to let you know about the Venezuela visa situation (off topic I know)
I have been applying for the last 3 months, documents are in Caracas atm. NO USA tourist visa has been issued since May due to politics (I don’t do politics) (understandably as well).
I have been chasing them up in London and will happy to let you know what they come up with, as they are following up with Caracas for me tomorrow. But it’s not looking good for US citizens.
Only US & Canada (apparently) need to have their docs sent to Caracas to have a visa issued. Everyone else can get theirs without prior permission.
All the best,
KT
I forget what I last wrote about mine, but it has languished in the Mexico City embassy for months. Seems my trip to Venezuela is going to take awhile…
Please keep me updated!
Another reason to get that German passport ASAP!
ASAP means he and his family would have to move to Germany and live there for a few years first.
There’s always North Korea to consider.
Yeah, send Trump there so he can rekindle his bromance with Kim.
Hasn’t the average North Korean already suffered enough?
A whole lot of over vaxed TDS with the libtards here.
Bless your heart.