American Airlines Seeks DOT Approval to Immediately Cut Intl Cuban Routes

(MIAMI) American Airlines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve immediate cuts to its Cuba schedule for the rest of the summer 2025 season, including reductions on the busy Miami–Havana route and a full suspension of Miami–Santiago de Cuba service. The carrier filed its motion on June 7, 2025, and, as of August 28, 2025, the DOT has not issued a decision. American says the move responds to weak demand and limited aircraft availability and would remain temporary.

Under the request, American would trim Miami–Havana frequencies on select days and pause all flying to Santiago de Cuba. If granted, the change would remove nonstop U.S. service to Santiago de Cuba altogether for the season, leaving travelers to connect through other points in the region or wait for a later restart.

Requested cuts for Summer 2025

In its filing, American seeks to expand a previously granted temporary dormancy waiver to cover new Cuba adjustments through the end of the summer schedule. The DOT last approved relief on March 21, 2025, covering reduced frequencies to Camaguey, Holguin, Matanzas/Varadero, and Santa Clara; those cuts would remain as-is, while the new request focuses on Miami–Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

Key elements of the request include:

• Miami–Havana: cut up to three of eight daily roundtrips on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Miami–Havana: cut up to four of eight daily roundtrips on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Santiago de Cuba: suspend all daily Miami–Santiago de Cuba flights for all days of the week.

American told the DOT the Cuba market faces “deeper challenges to the rebound of U.S.-Cuba passenger demand.” The carrier also pointed to the need to “more efficiently deploy its scarce aircraft,” stressing that the relief is “narrowly tailored, limited to the remainder of the summer 2025 season,” and designed to allow quick reinstatement if conditions improve. The company argues that short-term flexibility is necessary to match supply with actual bookings while keeping the option to restore flights if demand returns.

What this means for travelers

• Fewer seats and fewer time choices between Miami and Havana.
• No nonstop Miami–Santiago de Cuba option from any U.S. carrier during the waiver period if the plan is approved.
• American says it can bring back suspended routes as soon as the market supports them.

Affected customers should check their bookings and watch for updates from American and the DOT. Official notices and docket updates are posted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Regulatory review and wider context

The DOT is the federal authority that will approve or deny the suspension and frequency cuts. The department reviews such motions based on market data, the public interest, and compliance with existing route authorities and waivers. According to the filing record, no formal DOT or FAA confirmation of the proposed cuts had been issued by August 28.

The U.S.–Cuba air corridor remains unpredictable. Demand has risen and fallen with policy shifts and broader political tensions over recent years. In the same week as American’s filing, President Trump issued a sweeping travel ban that included new limits on U.S.–Cuba travel, a change that American says further complicates planning and demand forecasts for the season.

American has long been the largest U.S. operator to Cuba from Miami, serving Cuban-American families and business travelers with multiple daily flights to Havana and several other cities since scheduled service resumed in 2016. But the schedule has often changed, with waivers and temporary reductions used during periods of soft demand or tighter restrictions.

Aviation analysts say the request fits a wider trend of capacity management across international markets facing policy uncertainty and uneven demand. Views vary:

• Some warn that more cuts will make trips harder for travelers who depend on regular links, especially routes like Miami–Havana.
• Others argue airlines must align schedules with bookings to protect their balance sheets.

The dormancy flexibility American seeks would allow a faster rebound in service if policies shift again or bookings rise later in the season.

Stakeholder perspectives

Here is how key stakeholders frame the issue:

• American Airlines: targeting short-term relief to cope with weak demand and aircraft scarcity while keeping the door open to restore flying quickly.
• DOT: weighing the public interest and market effects before ruling on route suspensions and frequency reductions.
• Passengers: likely to see reduced options, especially to Santiago de Cuba, and should follow airline notices for rebooking choices.
• Industry analysts: view the plan as consistent with broader capacity rationalization in markets under policy strain.

Practical effects and timeline

If the DOT signs off:

1. Travelers holding tickets on Miami–Havana may be moved to different times or days.
2. Those booked on Miami–Santiago de Cuba would face reroutes or refunds.
3. American could reinstate suspended routes quickly if demand improves.

American has not published a new timeline for resumption, noting only that the requested relief ends with the current season and that service could return sooner if conditions allow. The company’s latest request sits on top of the March waiver that already trimmed flights to Camaguey, Holguin, Matanzas/Varadero, and Santa Clara. Those earlier adjustments would remain unchanged under the proposal.

Analysis and outlook

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the DOT’s pending decision will shape how carriers manage Cuba schedules for the rest of the summer and may guide similar requests if conditions stay uncertain. VisaVerge.com reports that American’s motion asks for expanded dormancy protection specifically tailored to Miami–Havana frequencies and a total pause of Miami–Santiago de Cuba.

As of late August, the DOT docket still showed the matter under review. Practically, that means travelers should assume the current timetable remains in effect until American issues schedule changes backed by DOT relief. The airline has said it will move swiftly to adjust once it receives a ruling, aiming to minimize last-minute disruption where possible. The company also notes that, should demand firm up, it can add flights back within the waiver period.

The broader outlook for U.S.–Cuba flying remains uneven. Policy changes can quickly affect who can travel and when, while airline fleet plans and maintenance schedules make it hard to keep extra aircraft on standby. That is why American says it needs a targeted, time-bound suspension rather than a permanent pullback.

If the DOT denies the request, American would be expected to keep operating the current plan or seek other options within its existing authorities.

Key numbers: American is asking to cut up to three of eight Miami–Havana roundtrips on five days of the week and up to four of eight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while pausing the Santiago de Cuba route entirely for the season. The earlier reductions to Camaguey, Holguin, Matanzas/Varadero, and Santa Clara would remain unchanged.

The DOT decision, once published, will set the schedule for the weeks ahead and signal how the department views short-term flexibility requests in this market.