Iberia is suspending direct flights between Madrid and Havana — a historic air corridor between Spain and Cuba — which will remain closed until at least November. The airline attributes the decision to fuel supply problems on the island and deteriorating operating conditions, a situation that has been affecting international air travel for several months.
Refuelling in the Dominican Republic and rising costs: Why Iberia gradually cut back flights
As early as April, the carrier announced it would temporarily halt flights to Cuba between June and October, after aircraft were forced to make technical stopovers in the Dominican Republic to refuel before returning to Spain. This increased operating costs and made maintaining the route significantly more difficult.
Before the complete shutdown, Iberia had gradually reduced the number of weekly flights to Havana — a move driven both by logistical difficulties and a decline in passenger demand for travel to the island. Nevertheless, the company plans to restore direct service from November if conditions improve, and continues to sell tickets for those dates.
Air France, Turkish Airlines and Air Canada already on the list: Where the energy collapse is leading
The Spanish carrier’s decision is not an isolated one. Iberia joins other major international airlines that have suspended flights to Cuba in recent months because of fuel shortages. Air France, Turkish Airlines and Air Canada have also temporarily cancelled flights to the island, citing difficulties in securing the necessary fuel supplies for their operations.
The energy crisis in Cuba has become one of the biggest challenges for the country’s aviation sector and is leading to a gradual reduction in international connectivity. The fuel shortage, coupled with a downturn in tourism and the economic difficulties facing the island, has forced several carriers to reconsider their presence in the Cuban market.
