- Turkish Airlines will resume Havana flights on 25 October 2026.
- The airline will operate three weekly Boeing 787-9 flights from Istanbul.
- The restart will restore sixth-freedom options for Russia-Cuba travel.
- Aviation fuel shortages remain an operational constraint at Havana airport.
- No direct flights between Russia and Cuba currently exist.
Turkish Airlines has planned to resume flights to Havana International on 25 October 2026, more than six months after suspending its Cuba operations amid the country’s jet fuel shortage. The carrier will operate Istanbul-Havana three times weekly with Boeing 787-9s, with both directions filed non-stop until at least March 2027. The restart will also restore a sixth-freedom option between Russia and Cuba via Istanbul, with connections listed from Moscow Vnukovo and St Petersburg.
Aviation fuel shortages remain an operational constraint at Havana airport, with an active Notice to Air Missions issued on 30 July stating Jet A-1 fuel is unavailable at the aerodrome until at least 1 September. Cuba suspended jet fuel provision at Havana and eight other airports from 10 February, forcing several foreign carriers to suspend flights or introduce intermediate refuelling stops. Turkish Airlines’ booking engine lists Moscow Vnukovo-Havana itineraries via Istanbul from 25 October.
No direct flights between Russia and Cuba currently exist, after Rossiya, Nordwind Airlines, and Aeroflot suspended flights from early 2026 due to the fuel situation. Turkish Airlines’ ability to operate non-stop flights depends on fuel availability at Havana airport. The airline’s booking engine shows connections from Havana to Moscow and St Petersburg as part of the resumed service.
