Cayman Airways will temporarily suspend its weekly service between Grand Cayman and Havana from 26 June, citing worsening market conditions in Cuba, among other factors.
The airline said on Tuesday, 17 June, that an assessment of passenger demand, cargo volumes, financial performance and forward bookings found the route was no longer economically viable.
“This was a difficult decision, but it is a necessary step to ensure the responsible management of the airline’s resources and long-term sustainability,” Cayman Airways President and CEO Fabian Whorms said in a statement.
The airline said demand on the route has steadily fallen over several years, leaving revenue well below the level needed to cover the direct costs of operating the flights. Cargo volumes have also remained limited, while forward bookings indicate traffic is unlikely to recover in the near future.
Cuba tourism getting hit hard
The suspension comes amid one of the deepest downturns in Cuba’s tourism industry in decades, as the Trump administration intensifies its “maximum pressure” campaign against Havana through expanded sanctions and measures targeting countries that supply oil to the island.
The impact has been felt across the economy, with foreign companies scaling back operations, Visa and Mastercard payment processing ending, hotel operators withdrawing and international airlines reducing service.
The latest cuts add to mounting pressure on Cuba’s tourism sector, a critical source of foreign exchange for the island. Official data show international arrivals fell to 328,608 in the first four months of 2026, down 55.8% from the same period a year earlier. The decline accelerated in April, when visitor numbers dropped 82% year-on-year to just 30,551.
The downturn has also triggered a growing retreat by other international airlines serving the island.
Delta Air Lines recently discontinued its daily Atlanta-Havana route and cut its Miami-Havana service in half, saying market conditions no longer justified the previous level of capacity.
Spain’s Iberia suspended flights between Madrid and Havana until late October after months of operational disruptions linked to fuel shortages, while Canada’s Air Canada, Sunwing Vacations Group and Air Transat have indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba after previously planning to resume service later this year following cancellations throughout the winter and spring seasons.
Cayman Airways leaves door open to return
While the Havana route has been suspended, Cayman Airways said it will continue monitoring conditions in Cuba and could reinstate the service if demand and operating conditions improve sufficiently to support the route.
“We recognize the importance of this service to many of our customers and will continue to monitor market conditions with a view toward restoring the route when sustainable operations can be achieved,” Whorms said.
The decision comes after months of growing challenges for airlines serving the island. Earlier this year, Cuban aviation authorities warned of prolonged Jet A-1 fuel shortages, prompting some carriers to add refuelling stops, carry extra fuel or suspend flights altogether.
At the time, Cayman Airways warned that the fuel shortage created “significant operational constraints” for its Havana route and acknowledged that cancellations could become necessary depending on operational and safety considerations.
The airline said that customers with affected bookings will be contacted directly and offered a full refund, travel credit or rebooking to Havana via Panama City through the airline’s interline partnership with Copa Airlines.
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