Southwest Plans to Reduce Tampa–Havana Flights

Southwest Airlines has requested a temporary waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to scale back its operations between Tampa and Havana. The airline filed the petition on July 30, 2025, seeking to adjust its service to current market conditions.

If approved, Southwest will cut its flights from two per day to one, reducing weekly operations from 14 to seven. The change would take effect on September 4, 2025, and remain in place for six months, until March 4, 2026.

In its official filing, the carrier said fluctuations in demand between the United States and Cuba make it unsustainable to maintain two daily flights on the route. Southwest described the move as a temporary adjustment to the current environment but expressed hope that demand would rebound in the future.

The decision reflects a broader trend among U.S. airlines serving Cuba. The industry continues to face challenges from declining tourism and U.S. travel restrictions that prohibit general tourism to the island.

Other carriers — including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta — have also reduced or suspended flights to Cuba. Southwest noted in its request that the DOT has already granted similar waivers to these airlines. United, for example, will cancel its Houston–Havana route starting September 2.

Southwest said the measure benefits the public by allowing it to optimize flight capacity. The airline pledged to rebook affected passengers on the remaining flight or offer full refunds. The DOT’s decision on the request is still pending.